The Nantou County Government held the "2026 International and Cross-Strait Affairs Promotion Committee" meeting on September 4, 2026. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Magistrate Wang Rui-de and attended by representatives from various county government departments and relevant committee members. The meeting aimed to establish a clear development direction for Nantou's future international and cross-strait exchanges, while inventorying and integrating existing resources. The background of this meeting lies in the Nantou County Government's desire to promote Nantou's cultural, tourism, and industrial advantages to the international stage through systematic planning and to create a new framework for international exchange with local characteristics through inter-departmental collaboration.

The meeting covered multiple aspects, including social exchange, economic industry, tourism and culture, and administrative support, demonstrating the county government's attempt to deeply link international affairs with local governance.

According to the meeting minutes, various departments provided progress reports and future plans for their respective areas. The Civil Affairs Department, Agriculture Department, Tourism Department, and the Department of Information and Administration provided detailed explanations regarding their respective social exchange, economic industry, tourism and culture, and administrative support groups. Facts confirmed during the meeting include: the county government plans to increase the international participation of the "Nantou Lantern Festival," aiming to transform it from a local festival into an event that attracts international travelers; simultaneously, it plans to promote "small-town travel" based on the characteristics of Nantou's 13 townships and cities, with the intention of integrating local cultural tourism and specialty industries for joint marketing.

In addition, the establishment of an international exchange achievement-sharing mechanism was listed as a key project, aimed at improving the administrative efficiency of the county government team in handling international affairs through information transparency and the passing down of experience.

Although preliminary consensus was reached on several issues during the meeting, there are still areas that require clarification regarding specific execution paths, as noted in various media reports and information disclosed from the meeting. For example, specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for increasing the attraction of international travelers are currently only in the proposal discussion stage, with no specific quantitative targets or budget allocation details announced. Furthermore, regarding the specific scope and priorities of cross-strait exchanges, while mentioned during the meeting, the balance between internationalization and cross-strait exchanges at the operational level for each sub-group remains in the deliberation stage, with no clear execution guidelines released to the public. The absence of these details has led to a reserved attitude from the public regarding the actual conversion rate of the policy.

The decisions made by this committee have profound potential implications for the industrial development of Nantou County. By integrating cultural tourism with specialty industries, the Nantou County Government intends to break through traditional tourism models and transform into an in-depth travel destination with international appeal. For local industries, successfully introducing international marketing resources will help export agricultural specialties and cultural and creative products. At the same time, the promotion of small-town travel can not only drive economic development in remote areas but also strengthen local identity. However, the effectiveness of the policy highly depends on the coordination capabilities between departments and the ability to effectively connect with private industrial resources, rather than remaining solely within the planning of administrative agencies.

Regarding different perspectives and limitations, some commentators point out that local governments often face challenges such as limited resources and a lack of professional talent when promoting international affairs. Although the county government emphasizes cross-sector integration, how to ensure that departments do not merely go through the motions during execution, and how to avoid a disconnect between international exchange activities and local needs, are key points that must be carefully considered during policy promotion. Furthermore, over-interpreting the political implications of "international and cross-strait exchanges" is unnecessary; the focus should return to the substantive benefits of local industrial development and cultural promotion. Currently, the committee remains in the policy planning and recommendation stage; subsequent execution and public participation will be the key indicators in determining whether Nantou can successfully shape its international image.

Follow-up observations should focus on whether the Nantou County Government can translate the committee's proposals into specific annual plans and implement budget allocations. In particular, the internationalization upgrade of the "Nantou Lantern Festival" and the marketing and promotion plan for "small-town travel," along with subsequent investment attraction and international publicity strategies, will be key areas to watch. Additionally, whether the county government will establish a regular performance review mechanism and transparently explain the results of these exchanges to the residents will also affect the policy credibility of the committee. In the context of intense global tourism industry competition, how Nantou utilizes its geographical and cultural advantages to find a unique position in international exchanges will be a social and public issue worth tracking over the next few years.