TAIPEI – The acting chief of Taiwan’s representative office in Macau, Chen Chia-hung, has returned home after refusing to sign a document acknowledging the “one-China” principle, the island’s pro-independence administration said yesterday.
“The future situation is not optimistic,” Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in a statement, calling the Macau authorities “disrespectful and unfriendly”.
It said four other Taiwanese employees whose visas are still valid will remain in the special administrative region to keep the office running.
It came a week after seven employees of Taiwan’s representative office in Hong Kong returned to the island following their refusal to sign a similar “one China pledge” acknowledging Taiwan as an inalienable part of the Chinese nation.
Both Hong Kong and Macau have recently closed their offices in Taipei.
Last month, Hong Kong suspended operations of its office in Taipei and accused Taiwan of “grossly interfering” in its affairs, causing “irretrievable damage” to relations.
Macau followed in shutting its office earlier this month, saying it was having trouble getting visas for staff. – AFP / MPD
