TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The government may investigate Taitung County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling (饒慶鈴) over her appearance at the Straits Forum in Xiamen through a pre-recorded video message.
For the first time, the Mainland Affairs Council barred local government officials from attending the annual forum, arguing that Taiwanese officials should not participate in events where Chinese officials lecture their Taiwanese counterparts, per Storm Media. Rao ultimately addressed the event through a video recording, per UP Media.
An official familiar with CCP united front tactics told the Liberty Times that participating through a recorded video still amounted to cooperating with the CCP. The official said the agriculture ministry would examine whether Rao's actions violated laws governing cooperation with Chinese authorities.
Another official warned that China could halt imports of Taiwanese agricultural products at any time, arguing that heavy reliance on the Chinese market exposes farmers to significant risks, per Liberty Times. The official said the CCP uses what they described as a "communist mindset" in imposing import controls and accused the KMT of acting as the party's accomplice.
DPP Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) echoed those concerns, arguing that Beijing views agricultural trade as part of its united front strategy rather than as a purely economic issue, per SETN. He cited past Chinese import bans on Taiwanese pineapples and other agricultural products as examples of economic measures being used to achieve political objectives.
KMT Mainland Affairs Department Director Chang Ya-ping (張雅屏) rejected those accusations, noting that Rao neither met with Chinese officials nor signed any political agreements, per NOWNews. He questioned whether phone calls or video conferences between Taiwanese local governments and Chinese municipalities would also be considered participation in united front activities.
Chang called on the government to specify which laws Rao allegedly violated, rather than discussing her actions in the context of united front operations through media reports. He added that current MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) attended the Straits Forum in 2009 without controversy, while Rao now faces the possibility of punishment for expressing gratitude for purchases of local agricultural products.
Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan (張麗善) praised Rao's decision to participate, per UP Media. She said elected officials have a responsibility to advocate for farmers facing challenges from extreme weather and trade barriers.
While emphasizing efforts to expand Yunlin's agricultural exports to new markets, Chang said China's large consumer market remains an important option for diversifying export destinations and reducing risk.
