TAIPEI: The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) of Taiwan has announced an indefinite suspension of the Chinese newspaper "Strait Herald" from stationing reporters in Taiwan. The decision, attributed to the publication's involvement in "united front work," marks a significant move amidst ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China.
According to Focus Taiwan, MAC spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh stated that the decision was based on the media outlet's involvement in activities targeting Taiwan, which led to the conclusion that the Strait Herald is no longer a legitimate media platform. Liang refrained from providing detailed reasoning or timing for the decision but highlighted a recent finding by the Taichung District Court involving Lin Jingdong, a member of the Strait Herald management committee. Lin was found to have fabricated opinion polls about Taiwan's upcoming 2024 presidential election, allegedly to sway public opinion.
Liang noted that it remains unclear if Lin's actions were directly linked to the Strait Herald or if they were part of a broader united front effort by China. The suspension extends to the newspaper's parent organization, the Fujian Daily Newspaper Group, preventing them from stationing reporters in Taiwan. Currently, the Strait Herald has one reporter in Taiwan whose permit will expire on January 23. This reporter will not be required to leave before the expiration date.
Taiwanese authorities grant Chinese reporters permission to stay in Taiwan for up to three months at a time. It is uncertain if reporters from any Fujian Daily Newspaper Group titles will be permitted short-term visits in the future. The united front strategy, employed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), aims to influence individuals and organizations to further its political goals, such as promoting unification with Taiwan.
In reaction to the MAC's suspension, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, criticized the move as groundless accusations against Chinese reporters' legitimate activities in Taiwan.
Currently, Taiwan hosts reporters from eight Chinese media outlets, including China Central Television, China National Radio, Xinhua News Agency, and others, according to the MAC.
In related developments, Liang revealed that between 2014 and 2023, Taiwanese authorities revoked household registrations, ID cards, and passports of 679 individuals found to have Chinese household registrations or passports. A documentary released by Taiwanese YouTubers Pa Chiung and Chen Po-yuan alleged that Chinese authorities encouraged Taiwanese individuals to apply for Chinese ID cards, with an estimated 200,000 obtaining them. The documentary featured a businessman claiming Taiwanese citizens could hold both Taiwanese and Chinese identification documents simultaneously.
Taiwanese authorities are investigating the documentary's claims. Liang mentioned that Chinese regulations require Taiwanese individuals to surrender their Taiwanese identification when obtaining a Chinese ID. There is speculation that local Chinese officials may not be adhering to these regulations for personal benefit. Taiwanese authorities are also probing whether the Chinese central government is aware of and possibly supports this situation.