https://www.scmp.com/rss/522322/feed Mainland Affairs Council (MAC): A prominent Taipei-based cabinet-level administrative agency of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the MAC is dedicated to planning, developing, and implementing cross-strait relations policy concerning mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Its main areas of focus include regulating interactions, promoting cultural and trade exchanges, and mediating disputes. Established in 1991, the MAC plays a crucial role in advising the government, coordinating agencies, and... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai has warned the chairwoman of the main opposition party Kuomintang (KMT) against engaging in talks or agreements involving government authority when she visits mainland China next month. Cheng Li-wun’s coming visit has rattled Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and exposed unease even within KMT ranks – highlighting mounting friction over the opposition outreach to Beijing amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Cheng is expected to lead a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348556/no-deals-mainland-china-visit-taiwans-premier-cho-jung-tai-warns-kmt-chairwoman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348556/no-deals-mainland-china-visit-taiwans-premier-cho-jung-tai-warns-kmt-chairwoman?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:13:27 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s legislature is weighing amendments to an anti-infiltration law that would impose a minimum one-year prison term on Beijing-linked influence and infiltration activities, while critics have raised concerns about tighter social controls. The proposed changes to the Anti-Infiltration Act, under review by the legislature’s Interior Affairs Committee on Monday, come six years after the law took effect. They also come amid growing concerns within the government that prosecutions have resulted... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339634/taiwan-targets-beijing-linked-infiltration-push-stricter-punishment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339634/taiwan-targets-beijing-linked-infiltration-push-stricter-punishment?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:08:58 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Taipei mayor Chiang Wan-an is set to visit Shanghai for a joint forum, an event that will be watched closely by Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Chiang will travel to Shanghai on December 27 and 28 for the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported on Thursday. On Friday, mainland state news agency Xinhua said the annual forum would convene in Shanghai on December 28 and be based on the theme “Technology Transforming Life”. The forum, which was first... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3336251/taipei-mayor-chiang-wan-attend-annual-forum-shanghai-under-taiwans-watch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3336251/taipei-mayor-chiang-wan-attend-annual-forum-shanghai-under-taiwans-watch?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:00:18 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Taiwan has blocked RedNote, a mainland Chinese social media platform popular among young Taiwanese, citing “fraud prevention” and “information security” concerns. The criminal investigation bureau of Taiwan’s interior ministry on Thursday announced an internet shutdown and access restriction order for RedNote, tentatively for one year. Also known as Xiaohongshu, or “little red book”, RedNote is an Instagram-like lifestyle social media platform popular with youngsters around the world. Taiwan’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335386/taiwan-blocks-mainland-chinese-social-media-platform-rednote-citing-high-fraud-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335386/taiwan-blocks-mainland-chinese-social-media-platform-rednote-citing-high-fraud-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:14:23 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang A religious ceremony honouring the Chinese sea goddess Mazu, which was promoted by Beijing as a symbol of cross-strait ties, has caused fresh concerns in Taiwan. The goddess is revered as a protector of fishermen and sailors and has millions of worshippers in eastern and southeastern parts of the Chinese mainland as well as in Taiwan. Last Wednesday, the authorities in Meizhou, a city in the mainland province of Fujian where Mazu is believed to have been born, staged a celebration to mark the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3331591/why-ceremonies-honouring-chinese-sea-goddess-mazu-spark-concerns-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3331591/why-ceremonies-honouring-chinese-sea-goddess-mazu-spark-concerns-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 08:00:11 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung In a move authorities said would curb infiltration, Taiwan has revoked the citizenship of 50 individuals who also held mainland Chinese passports and household registrations. The action was essential to safeguard security amid deepening cross-strait tensions, according to the island’s government. Critics, however, said the measure was part of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) broader push to discourage identification with the mainland and weaken the historical links between the two... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3331522/taiwan-revokes-50-citizenships-citing-beijings-infiltration-critics-slam-dpp-move?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3331522/taiwan-revokes-50-citizenships-citing-beijings-infiltration-critics-slam-dpp-move?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 06:00:16 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Beijing is inviting guests from Taiwan to a key commemoration of Japan’s surrender of sovereignty over the island 80 years ago, despite warnings from Taipei against attendance. The Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) in Beijing announced on Wednesday that guests from the island would be invited to attend the “Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Restoration of Taiwan”, which falls on Saturday. But the actual commemoration may not take place on that exact date, according to past practice. Visits... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3329973/beijing-will-invite-taiwan-guests-mark-80th-anniversary-japans-surrender-island?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3329973/beijing-will-invite-taiwan-guests-mark-80th-anniversary-japans-surrender-island?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:49:53 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has accused Beijing of crossing a dangerous new line in its military intimidation campaign after People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warplanes closed in on a Taiwanese medical evacuation aircraft near the frontline islet of Quemoy earlier this year. In a statement on Tuesday, officials condemned the manoeuvre as an “irrational” act that endangered lives, undermined humanitarian rescue operations and posed a serious threat to flight safety. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which oversees... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3324961/taiwan-says-its-medical-evacuation-flight-was-intimidated-beijings-warplanes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3324961/taiwan-says-its-medical-evacuation-flight-was-intimidated-beijings-warplanes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 06:00:12 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Taipei authorities have taken a softer line on Taiwanese individuals attending Beijing’s Victory Day military parade this week, despite repeated warnings in the weeks leading up to the event. Former Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu defied the warnings and appeared on the rostrum overlooking Tiananmen Square on Wednesday, watching the parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The next day, Liang Wen-chieh, deputy minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, said... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3324510/taiwan-holds-back-penalties-victory-day-parade-supporters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3324510/taiwan-holds-back-penalties-victory-day-parade-supporters?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 12:00:07 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te must be having a brain melt. His ideological attacks on Beijing have become more incoherent by the day. His ruling Democratic Progressive Party is now a premature lame duck after its abject failure to unseat a single one of the 31 Kuomintang lawmakers targeted in Taiwan’s recent recall votes. Maybe that’s why it is lashing out in all directions. Its latest attack? Shen Yu-chung, a deputy minister with the island’s Mainland Affairs Council, has accused... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3324279/taiwans-attack-military-parade-beijing-exposes-its-own-weaknesses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3324279/taiwans-attack-military-parade-beijing-exposes-its-own-weaknesses?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 06:00:12 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Beijing’s military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II was reported widely in Taiwan. The event triggered mixed political reactions on the island and reignited long-running disputes over history, identity and cross-strait security. The event was streamed live by all major local media outlets – including pro-Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) networks – with viewers either admiring the advanced weapons on display or deriding Beijing for claiming credit for victory in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324181/beijings-victory-day-parade-streamed-live-taiwan-stirring-mixed-reactions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324181/beijings-victory-day-parade-streamed-live-taiwan-stirring-mixed-reactions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 08:22:10 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei A small Taiwanese delegation of politicians and business leaders – including former Kuomintang chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu – will be attending Beijing’s World War II Victory Parade on Wednesday, despite warnings from the ruling party in Taipei. Hung announced via social media on Tuesday that she arrived in the mainland capital the previous night and would be present at the parade. “Today, we are able to attend together and take part in commemorating this victorious moment in a national catastrophe.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3324074/taiwanese-beijings-military-parade-include-former-kmt-chair-want-want-executive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3324074/taiwanese-beijings-military-parade-include-former-kmt-chair-want-want-executive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 11:02:38 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang A number of Taiwanese have been invited to next month’s Victory Day military parade on the mainland, Beijing said on Wednesday, hitting out at Taipei’s warning to Taiwanese artists supporting the event. Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said that representatives from various sectors of society, including Taiwan compatriots, would take part in the parade on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II. “All of the Chinese people,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323370/beijing-says-taiwanese-invited-victory-day-parade-doesnt-specify-who?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323370/beijing-says-taiwanese-invited-victory-day-parade-doesnt-specify-who?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 10:04:46 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Beijing’s sudden activation of another civilian air route near the Taiwan Strait’s unofficial median line has renewed alarm in Taipei, with defence experts and lawmakers warning the move could raise the risk of miscalculation in an already tense air corridor. The mainland’s Civil Aviation Administration activated the last of three branches off the M503 north-south flight path through the strait on Sunday. The M503 and its offshoots were established in 2015 to connect various cities along the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3317268/alarms-ring-taipei-beijing-activates-another-taiwan-strait-flight-route?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3317268/alarms-ring-taipei-beijing-activates-another-taiwan-strait-flight-route?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 01:00:18 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang When Beijing stages a grand military parade this autumn, observers will be watching for signals being sent towards Taiwan, with both military hardware and historical connections sending both public and political messages. The event, to be held on September 3, will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. It will feature the latest and most advanced weapons of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping that is expected to hint at China’s foreign... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316421/beijings-military-parade-not-focused-taiwan-its-message-will-be?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316421/beijings-military-parade-not-focused-taiwan-its-message-will-be?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 04:00:10 +0000