TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An individual dressed in a Winnie the Pooh costume disrupted the Taipei-Shanghai city forum on Tuesday to protest China's continued military exercises around Taiwan despite over a decade of such meetings.
During the opening ceremonies of the 15th Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) witnessed the signing of two memorandums of understanding following the keynote speeches.
As Chiang was about to deliver remarks, a man dressed in a Winnie the Pooh costume appeared outside the ballroom, shouting, "The forum has been held for over 10 years, but warships and missiles continue to come," per Liberty Times.
The costumed individual was accompanied by two protesters who held placards that read "Two sides, Two countries," and “Oust Xi Jinping at Year's End" as they attempted to enter a restricted area. The protesters were stopped by police in the stairwell, leading to a brief scuffle.
The protesters then engaged in a 10-minute standoff with police near the hotel's side entrance. The protesters insisted that they were regular paying Regent Taipei VIP customers and questioned why they could not enter.
They demanded to leave through the main entrance and angrily criticized the police for protecting United Front groups. However, police insisted they leave through the side door.
Eventually, hotel staff intervened and helped guide them out through the main entrance. Other activists were seen outside the hotel also protesting the forum.
When asked by the media to comment about the protest during the forum, Chiang said that any form of protest reflects Taiwan's diverse, democratic, and inclusive society and that all expressions of opinion should be respected.