Chinese delegation gets ‘warm reception’ in rare visit to Taipei

Taiwan-China exchanges had tapered off due to pandemic-driven border closures but even before then, contact was rare – Copyright AFP Sam Yeh

The first Chinese delegation to visit Taiwan since the pandemic enjoyed a “warm reception”, the opposition-led Taipei city government said on Monday.

The three-day visit by the delegation from Shanghai, which began on Saturday, is part of a series of recent exchanges that have taken place as Taiwan gears up for elections in 2024.

Beijing claims the democratic island as part of its territory to be seized one day, and has ramped up military, diplomatic and economic pressure during President Tsai Ing-wen’s tenure.

The six-member group from Shanghai met Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an