Taiwan's MAC alleges Chinese meddling via sanctions on mayoral candidate's family firm

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council warned that Beijing is attempting to interfere in the upcoming Taipei mayoral election by targeting a company owned by the father of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Puma Shen. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office announced sanctions against VWAY Co., Ltd., alleging the firm continued trade with Chinese partners despite earlier penalties. The council said the sanctions were part of a broader strategy that includes media labeling of certain political camps and economic pressure.

Beijing has previously designated Shen as a "diehard Taiwan independence separatist" and barred him and his relatives from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Shen's campaign responded that such tactics will not earn public trust and noted that the incumbent mayor, Chiang Wan-an, shares the same view. The Taiwan Affairs Office also rejected Shen's expressed willingness to attend the Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum if elected, claiming separatists are unfit to discuss cross-strait cooperation.