TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) departed for Shanghai Sunday (Dec. 28) for the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum amid protests from pro-independence activists. Pro-independence group Taiwan Nation (台灣國) protested at Songshan Airport, accusing Chiang of pledging allegiance to Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
The mayor defended the trip, stating that the Taipei City Government had received approval from the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會), Taiwan's top China policy body, which oversees relations with the People's Republic of China. The 16th annual forum focuses on municipal issues between the two cities.
Chiang declined to specify whether he would address Chinese military aircraft incursions into Taiwan's airspace during the Shanghai forum. He stated he would reflect on necessary issues, reaffirming his position on cross-strait matters. The mayor also addressed Saturday's (Dec. 27) earthquake response, noting emergency mechanisms were activated promptly following the seismic event.
Taipei's Emergency Operations Center upgraded to Level 3 following Saturday's earthquake, with multiple city departments and district offices mobilized to assess damage. The center handled 39 minor incidents, including water leaks and property damage across the city. Repair crews completed most of the work overnight, with the remaining cases finishing on Sunday morning (Dec. 28) as officials continued to monitor the situation.