Taipei denies 13 Chinese officials from entering Taiwan

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council denied 13 Chinese officials from entering the self-governing island, Taiwan based Liberty Times reported on Monday.

Among the 13 Chinese officials banned from entering the island for attending the Taipei Lantern Festival is Jin Mei, the director of the Shanghai Taiwan Affairs Office.

The festival is an annual cultural event celebrated in Taiwan.

Minister-designate of the Mainland Affairs Council, Chiu Chui-cheng, said that the decision was made in response to Beijing's actions preventing Taiwanese businessmen living in China from returning home to take part in events organized by the Straits Exchange Foundation.

Strights Exchange Foundation, a Taiwan-based organization that deals with civil and business affairs with China, is inviting Taiwanese businessmen based in China to its cultural events.

Chiu said that some groups from China were approved to take part in the Taipei Lantern Festival, but application of Jin Mei's delegation was submitted too late for consideration.

China views Taiwan as a “breakaway province” despite Taipei having governed itself since 1949. Beijing has vowed to reunify the island, including by force if necessary.