Mainland ministry announces ban on government personnel attending PRC event

Mainland ministry announces ban on government personnel attending PRC event

2026-06-05

The PRC’s 18th Straits Forum will be held in the middle of this month. For the first time, the Mainland Affairs Council has announced a ban on central government and local government personnel from participating in any of its activities, a step up from its previous stance of “not recommending” they attend. The council says the event is the largest Chinese United Front operation targeting Taiwan. The first person to bear the brunt of the decision was Taitung County Commissioner Yao Ching-ling, of the KMT, who had put in an application to attend. Let’s hear what she and the council have to say.

Yao Ching-ling
Taitung County Commissioner
Actually, I don’t think it’s that important for me personally to be able to participate in the Straits Forum. I just feel it’s a bit of a pity. Whether problems can be solved is what I care more about. I’ve always felt my role as Taitung County Commissioner is a platform. If everyone can work together to make this platform better, that would be a very good thing. It’s a real shame.

Liang Wen-chieh
Mainland Affairs Council spokesperson
We prohibit participation in activities related to the Taiwan version of “one country, two systems,” or “democratic consultations” aimed at eliminating the ROC. We urge all sectors and political parties not to echo the CCP’s narrative on Taiwan and become tools for United Front work against Taiwan.

Chen Yu-chen
Lawmaker (KMT)
Why would you assume that they are necessarily trying to win us over? When we go and hold exchanges with them, why can’t we also win them over?

Chuang Jui-hsiung
Legislator (DPP)
The purpose of the entire Straits Forum is actually to promote unification. It’s about integration and promoting unification. There are so many forums around the world. Why do you insist on participating in this kind of forum that aims to eliminate our own country? From any government’s perspective, you would definitely express your opposition.

The Straits Forum, which is entirely conceived and guided by the PRC’s Taiwan Affairs Office since 2009 has seen its main attendees primarily from the KMT, New Party and some NGOs. The DPP has explicitly prohibited its party officials from participating. Although it claims to expand cross-strait people-to-people exchanges and strengthen cooperation, the core message of this forum is to emphasize that both sides of the Taiwan Strait share the same roots and that the motherland should be united peacefully.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#ccp #taiwan #roc #crosstrait

禁官員赴中參加"海峽論壇" 陳玉珍開酸反遭綠營砲轟

2026-06-05

第18屆海峽論壇將於這個月中登場，陸委會以海峽論壇是中共對台最大型統戰平台為由，有別於過去"不建議參加"，這一次首度宣布禁止中央機關和地方政府人員參與相關活動，首當其衝就是已經提出申請的台東縣長饒慶鈴。

[[台東縣長饒慶鈴]]
“其實我覺得我個人，能不能參加海峽論壇這件事，沒有什麼太重要，只是覺得有點可惜啦，問題能不能解決，其實還是我比較關心的，我一直覺得，我身為台東縣長這個身分就是一個平台，這個平台如果說能夠大家一起為這個平台加分，那就是一件很好的事情，很可惜”

[[陸委會副主委梁文傑]]
“禁止參加目的為消滅中華民國的一國兩制，台灣方案或民主協商等活動，我們呼籲各界和政黨，不要附和中共對台敘事，淪為對台統戰工具”

[[立委(國) 陳玉珍]]
“怎麼會認為，一定是他們統戰我們呢，我們去跟他們交流，怎麼不認為，我們也可以統戰他們呢”

[[民進黨團幹事長莊瑞雄]]
“整個海峽論壇的目的，其實就是促進統一，他就是要融合，促進統一，全世界有那麼多論壇你不去，偏偏都要去參加這種，要消滅我們自己國家的論壇，你站在任何政府的立場，一定是表達反對的立場”

由國台辦一手催生指導的海峽論壇，從2009年舉辦以來，台灣主要出席人士以國民黨、新黨和一些民間團體為主，民進黨則是明文規定不許黨公職參加。雖然打著擴大兩岸民間交流，加強兩岸合作的旗幟，但每一次的核心談話就是強調兩岸同根同源，祖國要和平統一。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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The Taichung City Government recently constructed an ecological park themed around rhinoceros beetles in Dongshi District. After its official opening in May, they held a ceremony to release beetles into the park. But now, visitors are discovering that the insects are dying off in unusual numbers. Some suspect the hot weather paired with insufficient shade is to blame, but the actual cause remains under investigation. In the meantime, the city said it would continue adding shade structures and misting machines to improve their habitat.

Visitors poke their heads around, searching high and low for rhinoceros beetles. Finally, someone spots one clinging to a tree trunk, but it appears listless.

- The environment here is too hot for them. They’re going to die from the heat.

- Rhinoceros beetles aren’t really suited to be out during the summer.

The Dongshi Rhinoceros Beetle Ecological Park is the first in Taiwan to be dedicated to the insect. It officially opened on May 11, and on May 30, a ceremony was held to introduce beetles to the park. But visitors have noticed they’re dying off for unknown reasons.

Member of public
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It’s a shame the beetles are dying off. The park needs to have better facilities, or they’ll keep suffering for nothing.

Member of public
Cares for beetles
The trees haven’t grown dense enough yet. The environment over there isn’t great for them.

Member of public
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They haven’t necessarily died from heat. Their lifespan is short. It’s mating season now. After mating, the males typically die within a week.

To shed light on this mystery, experts have weighted in.

Voice of Lee Yu-hung
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Beetles have an internal circulatory system. When in direct sunlight, they can’t dissipate the heat. The thermal energy will keep building in their bodies until it kills them. The trees there are probably not big enough yet, meaning there isn’t enough shade for them to escape the sun.

Chen Chao-jen
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The Maintenance Office promptly installed shade cover, mist machines, and other facilities to optimize the habitat.

The city said that rhinoceros beetles don’t live long and are vulnerable to injury or death due to high temperatures or after mating. Moving forward, it vowed to keep improving shade and misting facilities to keep improving their environment.

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Tainan collision posts flattened by trucks three times in two weeks

To keep cars from crossing the center lines at one busy intersection in Tainan’s Rende District, the city put up five flexible collision posts down the center of the road. But after only a couple short weeks, they’ve already been flattened by trucks three times, earning them the title of the unluckiest posts in town.

Taxis and small trucks drive straight through this intersection like usual. But just behind them, this flatbed truck plows directly over the bright yellow posts separating traffic in the middle of the road.

These poor posts are bent at an angle now, all at the same 30 degrees.

Cheng Ching-erh
Chenggong Borough chief
Not long after we installed them, they got run over by a truck. We replaced them the next day, but after installing those, they were bent again by a crane truck.

Cheng said the posts were installed on May 9 and damaged on the very same day. They swapped them out for a new set and installed a surveillance camera to keep watch, capturing a cement truck speeding over them on May 20.

Then again, a truck ran over them on May 25, meaning the posts were destroyed three times in just half a month. What’s worse is that none of the drivers reported the incidents.

Cheng Ching-erh
Chenggong Borough chief
They’ve been replaced twice in 10 days. We’ve pulled the footage to review what happened and will get the police to investigate.

This is the intersection of Baosheng East and Chongde roads in Tainan’s Rende District. Since motorists often make illegal U-turns and cross the center lines here, the city put up these flexible posts to keep everyone in their lanes. While the accident rate has indeed dropped, it comes at the expense of these poor posts.

Member of public
Commenting on incident
Most of them are large trucks. But you can’t put up rigid ones. If a vehicle hit one, it would be dangerous.

The unluckiest traffic posts in the city have already been replaced twice. The borough chief has decided to involve the police to go after the drivers for compensation. He also called on motorists to pay attention while going through this intersection so these hard-working posts can catch a break.

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Farmers breed new floral-scented "Yulan Magnolia" pineapple

Taiwan is now well into its pineapple season and farmers are showing off new exclusive varieties with unique and delicious flavors. A family of pineapple farmers in Chiayi’s Minxiong has actually created a pineapple with a faint floral perfume called the Yulan Magnolia Pineapple. In addition, another pineapple farming family has created the Honey Peach Pineapple. It’s so popular, and the crop is so small, it’s often sold out. Let’s find out more.

The staff cut the pineapple into small chunks so that people can take big satisfying bites. With just one bite, the flesh is tender and there’s a delightful fragrance of flowers. This is no ordinary pineapple, but the grower’s exclusive variety: the Yulan Magnolia Pineapple.

- It has a delicate floral fragrance and it tastes very sweet and refreshing.

- The fibers are very fine, it’s very moist and it’s quite sweet.

The fruit has a green and yellow color scheme, is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom in a teardrop shape. It has a faint floral fragrance. When cut open, it’s even more impressive, revealing small flower-shaped patterns on the flesh. This family in Minxiong, Chiayi, has been pineapple farmers for three generations. Many years ago, they spent over ten years developing this exclusive Yulan Magnolia Pineapple variety. Although the annual yield is only about 10,000 fruits and the farm-gate price reaches over NT$100 each, it remains a massive hit.

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Actually, it takes a very long time to develop such a delicious variety. It’s our exclusive variety.

Besides the Yulan Magnolia Pineapple, there is also a Honey Peach Pineapple, which is quite unique. If you compare their flesh, the Yulan Magnolia Pineapple is whiter, while the Honey Peach Pineapple flesh is yellowish. Some people wanted to buy it but were left empty-handed.

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The nationwide supply is very limited, so mass production has not yet commenced.

May and June are Taiwan’s pineapple season. In addition to the popular Golden Diamond Pineapple and Milk Pineapple, businesses are also launching their exclusive varieties so that people can try new flavors and experience different pineapple tastes.

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Shanghai’s gift of red pandas to the Taipei Zoo kicks off political storm

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These two adorable little red pandas strolling leisurely around on the grass are gifts from Shanghai that will arrive in Taiwan on Saturday. The Taipei City Government is promoting them extensively, calling them an outcome of Twin-City Forum exchanges.

Puma Shen
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Chiang Wan-an
Taipei Mayor
Providing more genetic diversity and life education is very meaningful for our children.

The two red pandas arriving at the Taipei Zoo are from the Shanghai Zoo. This "animal exchange" at the Twin-City Forum involves Taipei sending rare white-handed gibbons to China. The Chiang administration is proud of this, but the pro-independence camp is lambasting the animal exchanges as a tool for unification. They argue that as early as March this year, Taiwan imported a female red panda called “Sensen” from Asahiyama Zoo in Japan, but the Taipei City Government did not greet this with high profile celebrations.

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The Formosa Railroad Bento Festival is back for its 11th edition, its biggest one yet. As in previous years, rail fans were up bright and early to save a spot in line.

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This railway enthusiast nabbed a special edition Japanese golden train bento, which is not for sale in Japan, as it is reserved for gifts only. The limited-edition souvenir marks the 10th anniversary of a partnership between Taiwan Railway and Tobu Railway.

This year, there are 15 Japanese railway companies joining in the fun, including JR East, JR Hokkaido, Izuhakone Railway, Ohmi Railway, Awajiwa and Enoshima Electric Railway.

Sekuguchi Motohito
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We brought over this special lunch bag in the shape of a train on the Enoshima Electric Railway. Inside, you’ll find candied apples. We hope you’ll stop by our stand and have fun with us!

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The bentos we brought over contain Aomori apples, Yesso scallops and black garlic.

The Taiwan Railway also has limited-edition collectibles, such as a time-limited clay pot bento packed with seafood or a surf-and-turf meal laid in a bamboo steamer. This year they’ve collaborated with the Cosmos Hotel and Smartfish.

Lin Li
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Besides a party for your taste buds, also for sale is a 1:150 replica of the popular painted train on the Jiji Line.

The miniature is done in the popular N scale, and includes all the cute and colorful designs created by internationally renowned artist Hung Yi. From delectable meals to delightful models, the annual 4-day event is a must-go for railway enthusiasts.

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Flames burn fiercely out of a hawker’s truck. The blaze originated from a deep frying wok. Impossibly black, thick smoke shot into the sky, not only burning through the entire roof, but even damaging a sign on a nearby drugstore.

When the firefighters arrived, they immediately used fire extinguishers to put out the fire, but after the entire canister was used up, the fire was still just as big. They then had to change their approach and spray water to extinguish it.

With a powerful jet of water, the fire was finally extinguished, leaving only the frame of the stand.

- The metal cover next to it got too hot and instantly caught fire.
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- Put some ice on them.

Kao Cheng-huang
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The deep fryer for selling scallion pancakes caught fire, and we quickly set up water lines to put it out.

On Fuxing Road in Keelung City, the scallion pancake hawker’s truck caught fire when the owner suddenly needed to use the restroom and forgot to turn off the burner, causing hot oil to splatter and start a fire. The owner immediately grabbed a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, but the fire only intensified, and he also burned his hands. Firefighters remind the public that if a cooking oil fire occurs, do not pour water on it, and don’t rush for the fire extinguisher.

Kao Cheng-huang
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The correct method is to first cover the pot with a lid, then turn off the power and the range hood. After covering it, cover the pot with a damp towel and let it sit for five minutes to cool down before opening the pot lid.

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