Taiwan grassroots officials caught up in China exchanges, Taiwan Statebuilding Party rings alarm

2023-03-02

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.

中國統戰活動驚見前警政署高官基進:滲透新破口

2023-03-02

中國近期對台統戰，動作頻頻。國台辦主任宋濤，不但先後會見了，佛光山住持，以及高雄里長的交流團。基進黨更爆料，先前在一場高雄與北京連線慶祝元宵節的活動上，前警政署副署長蔡俊章，竟然以藝術家的名義高調參與，成為防止統戰的破口，希望政府可以出手管一管。

中國國台辦主任宋濤，1日會見台灣佛光山寺住持"心保"和尚一群人，還稱希望佛光山"為促進和平統一"，做出貢獻。不僅把手伸到台灣宗教界，連基層也不放過，日前高雄市有里長帶隊，前往北京進行社區交流，宋濤也是親自接見，報導中還不斷強調，兩岸同胞是一家人。基進黨更爆料，2月2日，高雄鳳山與北京西城區，視訊連線共慶元宵節的活動，退休的前警政署副署長蔡俊章，竟然以水墨藝術家的名義，高調參與。

[[基進黨台北市黨部主委吳欣岱]]
“前警政署副署長蔡俊章，他特別上台致詞，而且並獻墨寶，目前法規只規範這些退休的國安情報機關正副首長不可以參加中國舉辦的慶典活動，可是這種由台灣的中共代理人在台舉辦的統戰活動，變成退休高官參加統戰活動的破口”

[[高雄市議員(基進) 張博洋]]
“警政署高官蔡俊章，他用藝術家的身分來進行線上交流，巧妙迴避兩岸人民關係條例，里長也很尷尬，因為他不屬於公務人員服務法的認定範圍，非常值得我們台灣社會與蔡政府來做更大的重視”

宣稱習墨55年的蔡俊章與中國交流密切，還擔任中國翰林書畫院副院長等多項頭銜，如今變成統戰棋子，基進黨呼籲，希望有關單位可以動起來，不讓中國繼續吃台灣豆腐。

Laura Rosenberger to take over as AIT chair

2023-03-02

US house committees pass 14 pro-Taiwan bills

President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday received the founder of the Washington-based think tank the Heritage Foundation at the presidential office. Edwin Feulner invited Tsai to visit Washington, saying that bipartisan support for Taiwan was high. In the past week alone, three house committees have passed at least 14 pro-Taiwan Bills. Though they have yet to become law, one Taiwan lawmaker says it’s a sign of the tremendous support for Taiwan in the U.S. congress.

Heritage Foundation founder Edwin Feulner greets President Tsai Ing-wen warmly. His foundation’s latest Index of Economic Freedom ranked Taiwan’s economy as the fourth freest in the world. That’s Taiwan’s best showing in the report.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
We hope that Taiwan and the U.S. will sign a bilateral trade agreement in the future, as well as an agreement to prevent double taxation, so that the two sides can have a deeper relationship on economic and trade cooperation.

Edwin Feulner
Heritage Foundation founder
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and the delegation caused, some concern in the Indo-Pacific region by other people. But for us it is a sign of continued bipartisan support for the freedom, the independence, and the vigor of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. Suggesting that instead of Kevin McCartney coming here, you should come to Washington.

Feulner invited President Tsai to visit Washington, saying that he felt a strong support for Taiwan across party lines. In recent days, the situation in the Taiwan Strait has been a hotly debated topic in the U.S. Congress.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed eight pro-Taiwan bills. One of them was the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which requires the U.S. Department of State to review its guidelines for interacting with Taiwan on a regular basis, and have more thorough supervision on the development of Taiwan-U.S. ties. The same day, the House Financial Services Committee passed several bills of its own on Taiwan, including the Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act, the PROTECT Taiwan Act, and the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act, which aim to prevent a Chinese attack on Taiwan via financial mechanisms.

And on Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed three more bills. One of them was the Deterring America’s Technological Adversaries Act, which seeks to give President Joe Biden the authority to ban Chinese mobile video app TikTok. Another was the Countering the PRC Malign Influence Fund Authorization Act. And the third was the Upholding Sovereignty of Airspace Act, which aims to hold China accountable for violating the U.S.’ airspace with high-altitude surveillance balloons, and which would also require the U.S. to support Taiwan’s participation in the United Nation’s International Civil Aviation Organization. All these bills still have to be approved by the House and the Senate before being sent to President Biden to sign into law.

Chen Ting-fei
DPP lawmaker
Some of the bills will put more economic pressure on China, to let Beijing know that the U.S. stands with Taiwan. So these are extremely meaningful moves.

With more and more pro-Taiwan bills introduced in the U.S. Congress, the U.S. is sending a strong signal to the world on where it stands on Taiwan matters.

2023-03-02

US House committee approves bill authorizing President Biden to ban TikTok

In the heat of U.S.-China tensions and information security concerns, the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday advanced a bill which would allow President Joe Biden to ban Chinese video-sharing app TikTok. This comes after other nations including Canada, Japan, and India have introduced their own restrictions on the app. Let’s see what this could mean for Taiwan.

Countless videos from the popular Chinese app TikTok have gone viral around the world. But a lurking online security crisis behind the scenes has more and more countries on the alert. On Wednesday, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to grant President Joe Biden authorization to ban TikTok, with a result of 24 for and 16 against. The bill is expected to be sent to the full House for another vote this month. Meanwhile, the White House has ordered all federal agencies to remove TikTok from their devices within 30 days.

Karine Jean-Pierre
White House press secretary
We have been clear about our concerns about apps like TikTok, and certainly our concerns with countries including China as they seek to lever digital technologies and Americans’ data in ways that can present harm and risk to our national security clearly.

Michael McCaul
House Foreign Affairs Committee
We are living through one of the most dangerous periods in American foreign policy in a generation.

Already, 20 U.S. state governments have announced TikTok bans. As for other parts of the world, Canada banned the app on government devices starting March 1, while Japan and the EU have also long banned TikTok on work devices. Australia has a ban within internal affairs and defense departments, and India has passed legislation for a complete TikTok ban.

Tseng Po-yu
Doublethink Lab
In recent years, China has been more active in international public opinion and the online world. They are constantly doing all sorts of manipulation, and their manipulation is getting more and more sophisticated, and more and more influential.

Taiwan currently bans TikTok in the Executive Yuan and its departments for information security reasons. But as more countries bring down the ban hammer, many are discussing whether Taiwan’s TikTok restrictions should be expanded.

Tseng Po-yu
Doublethink Lab
It is very difficult to control this kind of social media in the international arena. So think tanks have not yet conducted very good studies on the necessity of controlling them.

Although as a social media app, a complete TikTok ban would be difficult, officials can and should educate the public on countering China’s information war.

2023-03-02

CECC mulls lifting self-isolation requirements for COVID patients by end of March

2023-03-02

Lawmakers discuss reforms for Taiwan’s public holiday system

Lawmakers on Thursday put forward a variety of proposals to reform Taiwan’s public holidays. Some lawmakers say the number of holidays should be increased to include dates like the Lantern Festival, or the Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Others say that Taiwan should do away with its system of “make-up work days,” which makes employees work on Saturdays in exchange for having a four-day long weekend. The discussion comes amid complaints that this year’s work calendar contained an unprecedented six instances of make-up work days.

The Legislative Yuan’s Internal Administration Committee on Thursday discussed the matter of Taiwan’s public holidays. Ruling and opposition lawmakers all put forward proposals for different kinds of holidays.

Chen Yu-chen
KMT lawmaker
We’ve seen the 228 Peace Memorial Day has become a political money printing machine. We in Kinmen don’t think that the 228 Peace Memorial Day is something we should all be celebrating in the country. In fact, people in Kinmen think we should be memorializing the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis.

Lai Hui-yuan
DPP lawmaker
Perhaps we should also consider the Lantern Festival as a public folk holiday?

Claire Wang
New Power Party
I think we should change holidays that commemorate our authoritarian past for holidays that are more in line with the country’s modern democratic values.

There are currently 11 public holidays, which include New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year’s Eve, 228 Peace Memorial Day, and the Dragon Boat Festival. Each lawmaker had a different opinion on making changes. The New Power Party says the number of days off should be increased to 19 days per year, saying that people are already overworked in Taiwan. A lawmaker from the KMT opposed the idea.

Yu Yu-lan
KMT lawmaker
Can’t we hold back a little? Let’s not create artificial celebrations.

Lin Yu-chang
Minister of the interior
Let’s take a look at the total number of non-work days in one year. If we were to stop implementing make-up work days, the total of days off would exceed the amount stipulated in our laws, which is 115 or 116 days. That is a big deal.

The matter of make-up work days and long weekends has been a hot topic for years. And with so many different opinions in the legislature, discussions will likely keep going for long.

2023-03-02

Kaohsiung to start rationing water starting March 8 as water levels run low

2023-03-02

Standing up for Taiwan’s fishing industry: an easy recipe for Japanese dish ‘ichiyaboshi’

China’s move to ban imports of Taiwanese fish has hit Taiwanese fisheries. Now fishermen are pivoting their strategy to promote the local catch at home in Taiwan. Today we learn from a home economics teacher a simple and affordable fish recipe to wow the whole family. The fourfinger threadfin is in season right now, and it’s perfect for the Japanese dish “ichiyaboshi.” The salted fish dish is often served at Japanese bars or “izakaya.” But with this easy recipe, you can make it at home.

A fish sizzles on the grill, its skin turning golden brown while the white flesh grows more and more tender. Oil runs along the fins, crackling. The classic Japanese dish “ichiyaboshi,” or semi-dried mackerel, is served with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. And you can easily make it at home.

Wu Shu-hui
Home economics teacher
In a restaurant it would cost about NT$300. If you buy it and make it at home, it’s about NT$100. It’s very simple to make, in fact. You can enjoy a dish that’s normally just in restaurants.

The chef cuts open a fourfinger threadfin, lays it flat, and rinses it in a 10:1 solution of salty water to remove any unpleasant odors. Then she marinades it in salty water in the fridge for one hour. Next she removes excess water with kitchen towels. Finally she props it open with bamboo sticks and ties up the tail with string. It’s hung out to dry for the night, and can be stir-fried or barbecued the next day.

Member of public
I can’t cook, but it’s very simple. You just cut it open, wash it, and salt it, and then you can make a classic dish from a Japanese izakaya. I think it’s quite simple and easy to get the hang of and fun!

Chen Wen-chin
Keelung Fishermen’s Association
Each catch is about 1 ton, which means about 3,000 fish. It’s the season for fourfinger threadfin right now. So it’s the perfect moment for us to make a big marketing push and introduce Taiwanese people to the taste of the fourfinger threadfin.

This home economics teacher advises buying a 300-gram threadfin for the perfect “ichiyaboshi.” Why not head down to the fish market and give it a try this spring?

2023-03-02

Reconsder truth and myth with Agrupacion Senor Serrano’s debut performance in Taiwan

We now take you to a show that utilizes a mixture of stage performance, multimedia, and objects to discuss contemporary issues. A Spanish theater company is in Taiwan for the first time to showcase one of its latest productions, "The Mountain." The piece encourages the audience to distinguish between truth and myth. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a closer look.

The actor takes the stage. Behind her, various multimedia images are projected onto the screens, such as badminton players playing baseball, the first expedition to Mount Everest, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, a fake news website, snow, and more.

This is "The Mountain." In this production, Spanish multimedia theater company Agrupacion Senor Serrano attempts to ask the audience questions, facilitate discussions about truth and myth, and reveal the often-flawed human perception of facts, contradictions, and myths. The piece was inspired by Orson Welles’ 1938 radio show “War of the Worlds,” which was based on the novel by H.G. Wells.

Anna Perez Moya
Actor
All the time, Putin is talking about the truth. What can we trust and what is true? What can we really trust. Can I trust forever? Do I have to double check the information all the time in order for me to trust this information? How vulnerable I am in front of all this amount of information?

Marc Cartana Pena
Actor
You can see two realities. You can see the realities on screen and you can see us doing the thing because we don’t hide from that. You can see us manipulating the stuff and holding the cameras and moving the papers and objects. You can see how the lie is being made.

Agrupacion Senor Serrano is a Barcelona-based theater company that was founded in 2006. The company creates shows based on contradictory and controversial topics about contemporary life. It hopes to tell stories through the use of innovative mediums to expand the possibilities of theater. Its productions juxtapose stage performances, live video, text, scale models, objects, and more. The theater company is currently on an international tour and is performing in Taiwan for the first time.

Marc Cartana Pena
Actor
It is amazing. I think it is difficult in Europe to see a city as big as Taipei for example. For me, it is an impressive situation to be in this big city full of big buildings.

Anna Perez Moya
Actor
There are some points where you can just find the calm. That is so beautiful that you have all the rush in the streets and then you get to the point that is silent. That is really nice.

The show will be performed at the National Theater and Concert Hall from March 3 till March 5.

2023-03-02

Taiwan grassroots officials caught up in China exchanges, Taiwan Statebuilding Party rings alarm