TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) expressed regret Monday (Feb. 3) over the absence of the Shanghai delegation at the Taipei Lantern Festival's (台北燈節) lighting ceremony. He emphasized that the city followed standard procedures and urged the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會) to approve the visit.
During a media interview, Chiang addressed questions about the participation status of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism (上海文旅局) delegation led by Deputy Director Chin Lei (金雷). Chiang noted that the council is still reviewing the application and is expressing hope for continued communication and goodwill.
The Taipei mayor underscored the importance of maintaining established traditions, stating that the lighting ceremony has been a fixture for eight years. He reiterated that Taipei applied as usual and hoped the Shanghai delegation would eventually attend, fostering dialogue and exchange.
When asked about the recall campaign targeting 18 Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) legislators, Chiang criticized it as divisive political maneuvering, stating that people cannot accept such tactics. He urged the central government to prioritize public opinion and livelihood issues. Chiang also praised the oversight efforts of KMT legislators in Taipei, affirming his support for them.