As things heat up in the run-up to the presidential election, an elected official’s organized tour group trip to China has raised eyebrows.
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A Taipei Nangang district neighborhood representative's organized trip to China's Jiangsu province, priced at just NT$15,000 for six days, is under scrutiny. Beyond its seemingly affordable price, the tour, inclusive of Disneyland, includes visits to Belt and Road Initiative sites and a visit with China’s Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. As Taiwan's elections approach, this sparks concerns about potential Chinese interference in the electoral process.
One concerned resident said that the arrangement seemed like a private one between acquaintances. They said the price was relatively cheap and that it seemed like a subtle united front strategy, so they advised their family not to participate.
Taipei City Councilor Chen Yi-chun (陳怡君) questions why the neighborhood representative would be communicating directly with the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. She says she believes Taiwan's national security agencies and civil affairs bureaus should intervene and investigate.
Neighborhood representatives are considered very familiar with citizens' daily lives, making them prime targets for infiltrating the community. Experts say that before 2017, China primarily invited neighborhood representatives, but that the scope has now broadened to include other residents.
National Taiwan University, Associate Professor of Political Science Chen Shih-min (陳世民) says that the individuals participating in these visits can influence thinking. When they return to Taiwan from their trip they can expand China's influence on society.
The controversial tour underscores the importance of distinguishing between genuine interactions and potential external interference during this politically charged time.