Dr Harrison believes the decision was likely related to upcoming Taiwan presidential elections in 2020, and given the specific timing, the decision had likely already been in the works for some time.

"This might be part of broad thinking about 'what China can do in order to intervene in the election'," Dr Harrison said.

He added that it would allow Beijing to give preferred presidential candidate and Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu a situation that he would be able to solve.

"It's a calibrated action that is trying to avoid blowback against Beijing in ways that would hurt the presidential candidate they would prefer to see win," he said.

"It does give Han Kuo-yu something to say, and although it is very early days, he has had some headwinds in his campaign so far."