A Taipei city councillor is publicly backing cross-strait contact, praising the labour minister's planned trip to China and defending the mayor's son from criticism over a school exchange spot.

• Taipei councillor Chin Hui-chu welcomed Labour Minister Hung Sun-han's plan to attend the APEC summit in China in November, calling a visit to Shanghai by a figure known for a tough line on Beijing a good thing.
• She argued cross-strait exchange has been official policy under every president from Lee Teng-hui onward, and accused the Lai Ching-te government of piling on rules that make it hard.
• She also defended Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an's eldest son, who gave up a publicly funded exchange place after a backlash, saying no child should lose the chance because of who their parent is.
• Attacking a politician's or tycoon's child over a scheme open to all secondary students is bullying, she said, urging a calmer public response.

Outlook: The minister's November trip will keep testing how far Taiwan's government is willing to let officials engage with Beijing.