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Taiwan grassroots officials caught up in China exchanges, Taiwan Statebuilding Party rings alarm
China continues to use its “united front” strategy to push for unification with Taiwan, and is now even targeting Taiwan’s grassroots level. Recently, local officials from Kaohsiung and Fo Guang Shan Monastery have conducted exchanges with China, setting off alarm bells for Taiwan Statebuilding Party legislators. Let’s hear what they have to say about the situation.
The head of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, Song Tao, met with a group from Taiwan’s Fo Guang Shan Monastery including Head Abbot Hsin Bau on Wednesday. During the visit, Song said he hoped Fo Guang Shan would help "promote peaceful unification." China is not only extending its reach to Taiwan’s religious community, but also groups at the grassroots level. Just recently, a delegation of borough chiefs from Kaohsiung traveled to Beijing for community exchanges, also personally received by Song, with reports emphasizing nonstop that compatriots on both sides of the strait are one family. Now, the Taiwan Statebuilding Party has alerted the public that on Feb. 2, an online Lantern Festival celebration was held between officials from Kaohsiung’s Fengshan District and Beijing’s Xicheng District. Even the retired deputy commissioner of Taiwan’s National Police Agency, Tsai Chun-chang, who is also an ink painter, took part in the event as an artist.
Wu Hsin-tai
Taiwan Statebuilding Party
Tsai Chun-chang, the former deputy commissioner of the National Police Agency, gave a special speech on stage, and even presented a work of calligraphy. Current regulations only state that retired heads and deputy heads of national security and intelligence agencies are not allowed to participate in celebrations organized by China. But these sort of united front activities organized by agents of the CCP within Taiwan have become a loophole for allowing retired senior officials to participate.
Chang Po-yang
Kaohsiung City councilor (TSP)
A senior official from the National Police Agency, Tsai Chun-chang, used his identity as an artist to conduct online communications with China and cleverly evaded the cross-strait act. The borough chiefs are also in an awkward position, because they don’t fall within the scope of the Civil Servants Work Act. It would be very worthwhile for our Taiwanese society and the Tsai administration to pay more attention to this.
Taiwan Statebuilding Party members say that Tsai, who has studied ink painting for 55 years, has close ties with China. They say he held titles such as vice president of China’s Hanlin painting and calligraphy academy, and has become a pawn of the CCP. Now, they call for authorities to take action to prevent China from continuing to meddle in Taiwan.
2023-03-02
