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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

Straits Forum: MAC Imposes Ban, Chang Li-shan Asks 'Why Restrict Ourselves?'

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has prohibited local government officials from participating in the upcoming Straits Forum.
  • Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan criticized the ban, arguing that cross-strait exchanges are vital for reducing conflict and fostering peace.
  • Chang believes Taiwan should have confidence in its people and not impose self-restrictions, advocating for dialogue on tourism, culture, and agriculture to benefit Taiwanese farmers.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced a prohibition on local government officials participating in the upcoming Straits Forum, a major platform organized by mainland China. The forum is scheduled to take place on June 13.

The Republic of China is a great nation; it should have confidence in itself and in its citizens. Why should we impose self-restrictions?

— Chang Li-shanCriticizing the Mainland Affairs Council's ban on local officials attending the Straits Forum.

Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan voiced strong opposition to the ban, questioning the rationale behind such restrictions. "The Republic of China is a great nation; it should have confidence in itself and in its citizens. Why should we impose self-restrictions?" she asked during an interview.

Chang argued that peaceful relations are built on more than just words; they require "goodwill actions." She believes that civilian exchanges and visits are crucial for mitigating conflict, hatred, and mutual threats, thereby implementing genuine peace. "If everyone can stand on the same level, and discuss tourism, culture, and agricultural exchanges with equality and dignity, opening up opportunities will lead to the next step," she stated.

Peace is not achieved by words alone, but requires goodwill actions. Civilian exchanges and visits can reduce conflict, hatred, and mutual threats, thereby implementing genuine peace.

— Chang Li-shanArguing for the importance of cross-strait exchanges.

The magistrate expressed concern that the MAC's regulations create pressure and resentment, not only among the public but also within civilian groups. She questioned the effectiveness of such measures, asking, "Does this do any good?"

If everyone can stand on the same level, and discuss tourism, culture, and agricultural exchanges with equality and dignity, opening up opportunities will lead to the next step.

— Chang Li-shanOn the conditions for productive cross-strait dialogue.

Chang specifically highlighted the economic implications for Taiwanese farmers, noting the limited success of efforts to expand markets in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia. She advocated for allowing Taiwanese agricultural products to be exported to China, suggesting it would offer a much-needed lifeline. "Why not give Taiwanese farmers a way to survive and allow Taiwanese agricultural products to be exported to China again?" she urged. Chang concluded by suggesting that Taiwan's democratic image might be undermined by such restrictive policies, implying a step backward rather than forward.

Does this do any good?

— Chang Li-shanQuestioning the effectiveness of the MAC's restrictive policies.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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