TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Mainland Affairs Council on Thursday said the Kinmen-Xiamen Strait Crossing Swim may be canceled due to its association with Chinese propaganda and influence operations.
The 13th cross-strait sporting event was originally scheduled for July 26, but reports suggest it could be scrapped this year over suspected links to united front efforts, per CNA. MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said the event is not merely a sporting competition, and that all athletes who travel to Xiamen are subjected to united front indoctrination.
Liang explained that each case has different characteristics and is subject to individual review by the government. He pointed to last year's incident involving an unregistered Chinese fishing boat capsizing near Kinmen.
Despite a memorandum signed by both countries on July 30 last year, Chinese coast guard vessels have continued to intrude into Kinmen's waters, averaging four times per month, each around two hours, with 77 intrusions total. He said this has negatively impacted the prospects for cross-strait exchange activities.
Liang noted that this year, many Chinese government officials and TV reporters have applied to enter Taiwan for the event, including plans for livestreaming and drone footage. Due to the nature of these activities, the government is conducting “a more cautious review,” said Liang.
He pointed out that last year, the event was hosted by the Kinmen County Government, which held primary responsibility and organized the swim from Kinmen to Xiamen. This year, however, it is being hosted by Xiamen, with participants entering restricted waters as they swim toward Kinmen, raising additional security concerns.
In response to media reports that the event has already been canceled, Liang said the government is still reviewing the application and has not yet made a final decision.
Liang said that repeated Chinese coast guard intrusions have placed a heavy burden on Taiwan’s Coast Guard, which would need to provide escorts and security for such events. "This isn't something that can be held just because one wants to," he said, adding that extensive safety measures would be required if the event were approved.
Asked whether the event could be resumed if Kinmen were to host it again, Liang replied, “I wouldn’t say that.” However, he said that if Kinmen County were to apply to host the event this year, there would still be several factors to consider.
