Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Sets Conditions for Chinese Actor Zhang Linghe's Kinmen Visit

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has indicated it would facilitate a visit to Kinmen by Chinese actor Zhang Linghe, provided any application meets regulatory requirements and poses no united-front risks. MAC Chairman Qiu Chuizheng made the statement on June 18 in response to an invitation extended by opposition-party lawmaker Chen Yuanzhen of the Kuomintang.

Chen Yuanzhen announced on June 15 that she had invited Zhang Linghe to visit Kinmen after encountering him at the Cross-Strait Forum in Xiamen the previous week. She expressed hope that the actor's presence would raise Kinmen's profile through celebrity appeal. Zhang Linghe, who gained attention among Taiwanese audiences through his role in the television production "Zhuyu," attended the Cross-Strait Forum on June 13 and called on more Taiwanese citizens to visit mainland China.

When asked about conditions for approval, Qiu Chuizheng noted that the MAC had not yet received any formal application from Zhang Linghe. He emphasized that decisions would depend on the purpose of the visit and its context, stating that the council would provide necessary assistance "as long as it maintains equal dignity, proceeds in an orderly and healthy manner, poses no united-front or political risks, and complies with regulations." Qiu also pointed out that the Cross-Strait Forum is regarded as a Chinese Communist Party united-front platform targeting Taiwan.

Meanwhile, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua said on June 17 that Beijing supports "two-way engagement" between young people across the strait and welcomes mainland artists visiting Taiwan for cultural exchange. He attributed current obstacles to mainland performers visiting Taiwan to obstruction by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.