MAC Criticized for Imposing Restrictions on Shanghai Delegation 上海團週六訪台 藍議員質疑限制重重

The Mainland Affairs Council has authorized the visit of a delegation of officials from Shanghai to attend the Taiwan Lantern Festival, but a KMT councilor criticized that the MAC imposed a number of restrictions, including banning them from going out for late-night snacks.

Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an inspected the Taiwan Lantern Festival's command center on Feb. 15 and thanked those who were on duty. The festival started on Feb. 5 and will continue until Feb. 19. The Mainland Affairs Council recently authorized the visit of a delegation of officials from Shanghai to Taiwan. However, as KMT Taipei City Councilor Chin Hui-chu pointed out, the MAC imposed a lengthy list of restrictions on the visitors, including banning them from going out to eat late-night snacks.

Chin Hui-chu, Taipei City Councilor (KMT): “It's not on their itinerary, so they're not allowed to have late-night snacks, visit with friends, or walk around freely. They are essentially only allowed to do what the Mainland Affairs Council authorizes them to do. That means that the rest of the time, they'll have to remain confined in their hotel.”

Chien Shu-pei, Taipei City Councilor (DPP): “The Mainland Affairs Council's regulations date from the time of former President Ma Ying-jeou. They are the ordinances formulated for official interaction between the two sides of the strait.”

The MAC said the Taipei City Government planned the itinerary for the Shanghai delegation and expressed its willingness to comply with policies and laws. Based on that, the visit has to be conducted in a "subtle, simple, and safe" manner.

Lee Li-jane, Deputy Mainland Affairs Minister: “There have been recent media reports that the Mainland Affairs Council imposed a number of restrictions and delayed handling this case. None of this is true. In addition, the city government did not propose an excursion to have so-called late-night snacks. The Mainland Affairs Council suggests that the Taipei City Government be responsible for explaining relevant details to the public in accordance with the principles of openness and transparency.”

According to Chin, the tentative itinerary for the Shanghai delegation is as follows. The visitors will arrive on the afternoon of Feb. 18 and visit the Taiwan Lantern Festival. Taipei City Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan will host an evening banquet on Feb. 18 or 19, and they will meet with the mayor on Feb. 20. The Taipei City Government has not commented on the itinerary.

發放熱豆花、叮嚀注意保暖，台北市長蔣萬安15日晚間視察台灣燈會指揮中心慰勞值班同仁，台灣燈會從2月5日一路開展到19日。陸委會已經批准上海市台辦率團來台北參訪，不過藍營市議員秦慧珠質疑，陸委會對外賓下達「限制住居令」，連吃宵夜都不行。

國民黨北市議員秦慧珠指出：「沒有在這個表上的行程，他們是不可以去吃宵夜、訪友，或者是去自由走一走的，等於是陸委會批准的行程，他們才可以走，陸委會不批准的行程，他們就只能待在旅館裡足不出戶了。」

民進黨北市議員簡舒培提及：「陸委會所依據的規範，是從馬英九前總統的時候，所訂下來的兩岸官方互動的法令規定來做核定。」

陸委會則回應，上海一行人來台，行程規劃都由北市府提出，北市府也表達配合政策及法規、訪團在台交流以「低調、單純、安全」為原則。

陸委會副主委李麗珍表示：「近期媒體有報導，陸委會下達了一些這個限制住居令，還有在處理上拖延等，這些都不是事實。同時市政府也沒有提出，所謂宵夜的這個行程，陸委會是建議這些有關的細節，應該是由台北市政府，根據公開透明的原則來對外說明。」

據秦慧珠透露，上海參訪團的預計行程，將在18日中下午抵台後前往賞燈，18日或19日晚間將由副市長李四川招待晚餐，20日上午拜會台北市長蔣萬安。 對此北市府目前暫無回應。