At a regular press conference held on the morning of September 9, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office addressed questions from journalists regarding the potential hurdles for a well-known Chinese coffee brand trying to enter the Taiwanese market.
The spokesperson, Chen Binhua, was responding to a Taiwanese reporter's query about the recent discovery that Luckin Coffee Inc. had been seen importing materials and recruiting staff in Taipei, a move that sparked widespread discussion on the island. The Taiwanese economic department subsequently requested the local agent to apply for a special project through the "mainland investment channel," leading to speculation that the coffee chain might face stringent reviews or even delays when attempting to establish its presence.
The reporter also noted that Taiwanese authorities have frequently imposed strict scrutiny on various mainland products and services, including iQiyi, Xiaohongshu, Luosifen, Zhang Xue's motorcycles, and now coffee, asking whether such actions would negatively impact cross-strait civilian consumption and commercial exchanges.
In his reply, Chen Binhua stated that the mainland welcomes Taiwanese compatriots enjoying high-quality mainland goods and supports two-way investment and win-win cooperation between enterprises across the strait. He criticized the Democratic Progressive Party authorities for deliberately obstructing and restricting mainland investments and product entries into Taiwan out of partisan self-interest, calling it an unpopular political manipulation that worsens the local business environment and harms the vital interests of Taiwanese people.
Chen reiterated that such actions undermine the legitimate rights of Taiwanese consumers and businesses, emphasizing that the mainland remains committed to fostering a favorable climate for economic collaboration despite these setbacks.