China Condemns Taiwan's Refusal of Shanghai Officials' Visit; Taiwan Cites Internal Affairs

China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) has condemned Taiwan's decision to deny entry to Shanghai officials, including the head of Shanghai's Taiwan Affairs Office, Jin Mei, who were scheduled to attend a panda handover ceremony. The TAO spokesperson, Chen Binhua, criticized Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for unreasonably obstructing and rudely refusing the participation of the Shanghai delegation.

Chen Binhua asserted that the "Shanghai-Taipei City Forum" is a vital mechanism for exchanges between the two cities and has yielded visible results in various areas of cooperation. He further stated that the panda's arrival in Taiwan was widely welcomed by the Taiwanese people. The TAO spokesperson accused the DPP authorities of exposing their "Taiwan independence" nature and confrontational mindset through these actions, which he claimed go against the will of the Taiwanese people.

In response, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) rebuffed the TAO's criticism. The MAC spokesperson emphasized that the approval or rejection of Chinese individuals visiting Taiwan is an internal affair of Taiwan, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has no right to comment on it. The MAC also noted that while the CCP exerts pressure on Taiwan and claims sovereignty in surrounding waters, it simultaneously uses soft diplomacy, such as animal exchanges, to potentially lull the public into complacency regarding these threats.

The MAC stated it has communicated these concerns to the Taipei City government. The council reiterated that the handling of cross-strait exchanges is Taiwan's domestic matter and that the CCP's interference is unwarranted. The TAO's statements come amid ongoing tensions and China's assertive stance in the region.