The Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China (Taiwan) issued a warning today to its citizens to be cautious of the Chinese Communist Party’s use of sports exchanges for propaganda purposes. The government also cautioned citizens traveling to mainland China to be mindful of related risks, especially regarding activities with political and united front arrangements, and to avoid participation in such events.
The Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China stated in a press release today that “regarding our table tennis players participating in professional table tennis competitions in Shandong, China, attending pre-match activities, unexpectedly being dressed in red scarves of the Chinese elementary school students, being led to sing united front songs, and being deliberately promoted by the mainland, these actions should not be involved in united front or political arrangements in pure professional exchanges between the two sides.” The council emphasized that cross-strait exchanges should steer clear of united front traps and related risks.
The Mainland Affairs Council emphasized that the government supports equal dignity in cross-strait exchanges, advocating for healthy and orderly communication between the two sides. The council urged exchanges to remain free of politicization, united front tactics, and risks, noting that the Chinese Communist Party often manipulates various exchange events for propaganda purposes, which compromises the nature of genuine interactions and hinders cross-strait relations. The government also reiterated the need for citizens traveling to the mainland to be aware of associated risks, especially those involving united front and political activities, and to remain vigilant and avoid participation.
Regarding future sports exchanges between the two sides, the Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China stated that “it will collaborate with relevant agencies to prevent sports professional exchange activities from being influenced by united front tactics in order to safeguard the rights and interests of our athletes and national dignity.”
Today marks the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident, and the Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China issued a statement on the eve of this anniversary, urging the Beijing authorities to uphold basic human rights, promote democratic reforms, return power to the people, give a positive historical significance to the “June 4th” incident, bring justice to the victims and their families, accommodate a more tolerant attitude towards diverse opinions in society, and respond to the universal values of democracy, freedom, and peace that people advocate for. The council stated that “if the Chinese Communist Party fails to face the truth of June 4th, it will forever bear the historical stigma.”
The statement further highlighted that the Chinese Communist Party continues to reinforce one-party dictatorship domestically, suppress diversity and dissenting voices, and extend its party-state system overseas, expanding its jurisdiction and intensifying cross-border repression, which poses a threat to democratic and human rights values pursued by all of humanity.
The Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China emphasized that peace is the only option, and prosperity is the goal of long-term stability. The Beijing authorities should, under the principles of equality and dignity, respect the Taiwanese people’s perseverance in democratic and free ways of life, handle political differences pragmatically, so that both sides can jointly pursue peace and prosperity.