TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will ban central and local government officials from attending China’s Straits Forum, the Mainland Affairs Council said Thursday.
CNA reported that the forum is expected to open in mid-June in Xiamen, Fujian Province. Mainland Affairs Council Spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said the forum is a Chinese Communist Party united front platform aimed at influencing Taiwan society.
Liang said the government has six policy positions on the forum. These include bans on holding related events in Taiwan, working with Chinese organizers, and sending central or local government officials to take part.
He said Taiwanese must not attend activities linked to China’s “one country, two systems” plan for Taiwan or Beijing’s “democratic consultation” framework. The council also reminded people to follow cross-strait laws and pay attention to personal safety risks when traveling to China.
The council issued a similar position on the forum last year. At the time, it banned central government officials from taking part and advised local government officials not to attend.
This year, the council tightened the rule by turning the advice for local officials into a ban. Liang said the rule applies to civil servants and public officeholders because China continues to carry out influence operations against Taiwan.
He said some public school administrators and local government officials had already applied for permission to travel to the forum. Taitung County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling (饒慶鈴) was among those who applied through the National Immigration Agency, Liang said.
Liang said the review committee would reject such applications under the new policy. He said the rule is meant to prevent government personnel from taking part in events used for political influence.
KMT Vice Chair Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭) is expected to lead a delegation to the forum on June 13. Liang said KMT members are not covered by the government personnel ban, but urged political parties and social groups not to echo China’s Taiwan narrative or become united front tools.
The Straits Forum is an annual event held in China that brings together people from Taiwan and China for exchanges in areas such as culture, business, youth affairs, and community groups.
