Category：Politics

China lashes out at Lai’s 17 measures to counter Chinese infiltration

Premier Cho Jung-tai on Friday voiced support for a set of 17 anti-Chinese infiltration strategies raised by President Lai Ching-te on Thursday. Cho said the measures are necessary to protect Taiwan’s liberty and freedom. The comments come after Beijing officials slammed Lai’s plans. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office had warned that they would take resolute measures if Taiwan independence separatist forces crossed the red line.

Lai Ching-te
President
China already satisfies the definition of a “foreign hostile force” as provided in the Anti-Infiltration Act.

President Lai Ching-te has clearly defined China as a “foreign hostile force” and has announced 17 strategies in response. The comments ruffled feathers in Beijing, with China’s Taiwan Affairs Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs responding one after another.

Mao Ning
China foreign ministry spokesperson
No matter what the DPP authorities say, it cannot change the fact that Taiwan is part of China, nor can it change the general trend that the motherland will inevitably be reunified.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier
When totalitarian foreign hostile forces abroad are using undemocratic and anti-freedom methods to destroy our democracy and freedom, as the nation’s leader and as president, of course it is necessary at this time to immediately and effectively adopt the necessary measures to protect our national security. At the same time, our investment dependence on China has dropped to 7.5% of our overseas investments. We will continue to control it.

Premier Cho Jung-tai stressed that adjustments and measures needed to be made step by step in areas ranging from national defense to the economy, culture and civil exchanges. However, the KMT has counterattacked by saying that all kinds of actions from the government are pushing the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to the brink of war.

Fu Kun-chi
KMT legislative caucus whip
There is the right to survival of millions of Taiwanese business people. Is it considered collaborating with the enemy if they go to the mainland? All exchanges in the educational and cultural sphere, along with those working in tourism will have to give up a market of 1.4 billion people. Does President Lai want to drive the two sides of the strait to the brink of a real war?

Ker Chien-ming
DPP legislative caucus whip
Our country is now at a critical juncture of life and death, so our president yesterday responded to this. Regarding the amendments to the military trial law, everyone needs to reach a consensus.

The DPP’s legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming echoed the president and the premier, saying that eliminating Chinese infiltration and united front work must become a consensus among all people in order to make the country truly secure.

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2025-03-14

Across Pacific, new-found freedoms face legal, economic obstacles

Across Pacific Island nations, journalists are pushing back on draconian laws and defamation cases and weighing the cost of Chinese economic help against true editorial freedom. VOA’s Jessica Stone has the story.

Celebration in December 2022. After more than a decade under a restrictive media law, a vote for change in the Pacific island of Fiji. Newly elected Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka:

Sitiveni Rabuka
Prime minister of Fiji
I’d like to thank the people of Fiji and congratulate them.

The Rabuka government repealed a law which allowed the fining and jailing of journalists for stories considered against the national interest.

Indra Singh
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation
The prime minister and the ministers, more or less, do not have any issues with answering questions.

Regional journalists rated Fiji’s press freedoms in the Top 5 of 14 nations surveyed for the first-ever Pacific Islands Media Freedom Index.

Ktalina Tohi
Pacific Freedom Forum
This is just the first step for a better media for our Pacific people.

The island nation of Palau took the top spot in the index. Leilani Reklai is vice president of the Pacific Islands News Association and publisher of the Island Times.

Leilani Reklai
Island Times Publisher
The journalists are protected specifically under the Constitution. And we also have laws that are in place to support the media.

But those protections are being tested. Reklai is named in a defamation lawsuit brought by a company owned by the father of Palau’s president for what the company says are “false and unsubstantiated allegations" about tax payments. Reklai believes the lawsuit is sending a message beyond the Island Times.

Leilani Reklai
Island Times Publisher
It serves to have the journalists think twice before they print anything or [before] they express what they feel is the story that’s going on.

Defamation lawsuits are also prevalent in the Pacific island of Tonga. Melino Maka, a commentator at the Tonga Independent, knows of many journalists entangled in them. Maka says these lawsuits exploit another vulnerability of the media here: a lack of funding. He says outlets sometimes resort to asking the Tongan or even the Chinese government for financial help, risking their editorial independence.

Melino Maka
Tonga Independent
Chinese pressure is always there behind the scenes.

Singh says the challenge now is ending the media’s tendency to self-censor after almost 20 years of little to no accountability reporting in Fiji.

Jessica Stone, VOA News.

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2025-03-14

Lawmaker gifts gigantic abacus to premier visiting legislature

Premier Cho Jung-tai on Friday left the legislative session with more than just opinions from lawmakers. He also left with a massive abacus. The item was a gift from DPP lawmaker Wang Shih-chien, as a form of encouraging the premier. Wang says that, despite all the budget cuts and freezes from the opposition, Cho can still make it work.

Cho found the gift quite funny, saying that Wang should be giving the abacus to the head of the statistics agency instead. The two later posed for a photo with the gift with broad smiles on their faces. Wang is known for his esoteric gifts, which he often gives as a form of criticism. But this time it was a heartfelt symbol of support.

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2025-03-14

DPP to hold 8 briefing sessions about consequences of budget cuts

KMT and TPP lawmakers on Wednesday rejected a motion to reconsider the central government’s general budget for 2025. They also voted against a reconsideration of a series of amendments approved to change budget allocations. After the failed bids to overturn the legislation, the DPP is now hoping to explain the potential consequences of the budget cuts and the legal amendments to the general public. The party will hold eight policy briefing sessions around Taiwan led by Premier Cho Jung-tai. Let’s hear more.

Lin Yu-chang
DPP secretary-general
The key takeaway of the briefing sessions will be that our country has to be secure, and that Taiwan must move forward. Premier Cho and the executive team will present the issues themselves, showing what impact the budget cuts and freezes will have on people as individuals. DPP local government heads, lawmakers and representatives from all sectors will all take the stage to share their opinions.

The first session will take place on Saturday at Taichung’s Shui’an Temple, with the second one on Sunday in Taoyuan. The next two sessions will be in Hualien and Taipei on March 22. Then, the campaign will go to Tainan, Hsinchu, Kaohsiung and finish in New Taipei.

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2025-03-13

Campaigns to recall KMT lawmakers get creative on social media

Campaigns calling for mass recalling of KMT lawmakers are getting a creative twist. One group that only went live on Wednesday is “Taiwan Action,” a collective of more than 100 filmmakers. Their first video on YouTube likens the opposition to trash that needs to be taken out. Not everyone is a filmmaker, but thanks to generative AI, overseas Taiwanese have cooked up engaging campaign videos. The distance between their host countries and Taiwan is not a problem for these passionate activists.

The first video posted by Taiwan Action is an untitled short by commercials director Kurt Lu. Taiwan Action aims to mobilize the public to support the second stage of mass recalling of KMT lawmakers, with six to eight short videos across genres, including dramas, commercials and documentaries. They’ve completed three videos so far. Apart from Lu and leader of the campaign Yang Li-chou, other award-winning filmmakers in the group include Wang Shaudi, Yee Chih-yen and Yeh Tien-lun.

The logo design creates an imagery of water drops falling and sending ripples throughout the entire island.

Meanwhile, a video made with generative AI by Taiwanese in the UK “targeting” the KMT also appeared online.

Voice of mass recall advocate in UK
Since last year’s legislative power amendments, it felt like the country was so close to being pushed into crisis by the opposition. I’m overseas enjoying the democracy of my host country, but I’m witnessing my roots Taiwan and its democracy being eroded step-by-step. If I don’t speak out today, will Taiwan in the future still be the Taiwan I’m familiar with and filled with so much goodwill?

Here’s another Taiwanese studying in the UK volunteering to gather signatures. She’s dedicated to the campaign since the beginning of the year. She’s referring to the forms as “love letters to Taiwan.”

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2025-03-13

Lai proposes restoring military trials for active-duty personnel

Amid a recent string of infiltrations and leaks within the military, President Lai Ching-te held a high-level national security meeting on Thursday. At a press conference after the meeting, he presented 17 measures to boost national security.

Among the most notable measures is a proposal to restore the military trial system, which would bring back military judges to handle cases involving active-duty personnel. The Ministry of National Defense says such trials would only be held for crimes related to national security, such as leaking government secrets, treason or espionage. Other, more general crimes would continue to be handled by the judicial system.

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2025-03-13

Chinese influencer gets residence permit revoked after unification comments

A Chinese internet celebrity in Taiwan known as Yaya has seen her residence permit revoked for advocating for China’s military annexation of Taiwan. On social media, the influencer had posted videos calling for Taiwan’s reunification with China by forceful means. Such statements go against Taiwan’s immigration laws, and the online creator will not be allowed to apply for another dependent-based residence permit for five years. She says, however, that her freedom of speech has been infringed upon.

Yaya in Taiwan
Chinese influencer
Taiwan is not a country. Taiwan is part of China’s territory. The whole world acknowledges that Taiwan is China’s territory. There are no more reasons needed to justify reunification through military force.

The Chinese internet celebrity, who lives in Taiwan on a dependent-based residence permit, posted a video advocating Taiwan’s annexation to China through military means.

Yaya in Taiwan
Chinese influencer
In a cross-strait war, if mainland China were merciless to its fellow compatriots and fought to death, Taiwan would be in ruins within half an hour.

The comments were reported to the National Immigration Agency, which revoked her residence permit in accordance with the law. The influencer will be banned from applying for a family-based residence permit in the next five years. Yaya in Taiwan says her freedom of speech is being infringed upon.

Yaya in Taiwan
Chinese influencer
I have my own opinions. On major media outlets, we see public figures in Taiwan talk every day about the People’s Liberation Army and so on. They can share their opinions on public channels, so why can’t I express my opinions? Where is Taiwan’s so-called freedom of speech?

Liu Shih-fang
Minister of the interior
Freedom of speech is not a gift that falls from the sky, and it does not grant you the right to publicly call for unification via force or for a military invasion of Taiwan. The influencer’s case is being handled in accordance with the Cross-Strait Relations Act. This is something we all understand in Taiwanese society. If you cross the line of freedom of speech to the point of breaking the law, you will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The minister of the interior says that freedom of speech did not extend to advocating for Taiwan’s military annexation. She says the influencer’s case is being handled following the relevant legal provisions.

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2025-03-12

Politicians attend funeral of Ko Wen-je’s late father

Political bigwigs of all three major parties attended the funeral of former TPP leader Ko Wen-je’s father Monday morning. Among the guests were former Presidents Chen Shui-bian and Ma Ying-jeou, while former President Tsai Ing-wen sent in flowers. As for current President Lai Ching-te, it’s rumored that he had asked if a representative could attend on his behalf, but the Kos declined.

The funeral service of former TPP leader Ko Wen-je’s father is attended by heavyweights from all three major parties. Even former President Chen Shui-bian came all the way from Kaohsiung in memory of the elder Ko.

Soon after, former President Ma Ying-jeou, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu, Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao, Miaoli County Commissioner Chung Tung-chin and KMT Lawmaker Ko Chih-en arrive one-by-one.

Han Kuo-yu
Legislative speaker
I offer my condolences at this moment when they must feel at their lowest and most helpless.

Chung Tung-chin
Miaoli county commissioner
Sometimes it’s a relief to be able to leave after being ill for so long. It’s just the timing that’s not very convenient for the chair, Ko Wen-je, which of course attracts a lot of attention from the public.

DPP legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming also had a few last words for the late Mr. Ko.

Ker Chien-ming
DPP legislative caucus whip
The elder Mr. Ko was leader of the Ko clan association, so we knew each other very well back in Hsinchu and have met many times. When I ran for district legislator in 2016 they also really supported me. The deceased should be put first, so of course I must be here to bid him farewell.

Bouquets from former President Tsai ing-wen, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih and many others line the entrance. It’s rumored that current President Lai Ching-te offered to send a representative to attend for him, but the Kos declined. Lai’s bouquet also seemed to be tucked away off the venue.

Victoria Chang
TPP spokesperson
The bouquets were received by the funeral service company and we’ve handled them well. The service is in process at the moment. We’re also very grateful for the bouquet offered by the Presidential Office.

Politicians across the spectrum put aside their differences for the occasion to bid the elder Ko farewell.

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2025-03-10

China’s foreign minister stresses territorial claim over Taiwan

China on Friday doubled down on its claim that Taiwan is part of its territory. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said at a press conference that Taiwan’s only name in the UN is “Taiwan, Province of China.” He also hit out at Japan, saying that if “Japan caused trouble using Taiwan as a pretext, it’s only shooting itself in the foot.” Taiwan’s foreign minister Lin Chia-lung replied that China was deliberately distorting the meaning of UN resolution 2758, which states that the PRC is the lawful representative of China in the UN, without mentioning Taiwan. He said behind Wang’s comments was legal warfare and hybrid warfare. China hopes to use the law as a basis for annexing Taiwan and also wants to prevent international support for the relatively young democracy.

Wang Yi
Chinese foreign minister
The only name for the Taiwan region in the United Nations is “Taiwan, Province of China.” Taiwan has never been a country. It has never been one in the past, nor will it ever be one in the future.

Lin Chia-lung
Foreign minister
Why is the CCP so proactively distorting Resolution 2758? Because if it interprets Taiwan as part of China, then the Taiwan issue will become an internal issue, the Taiwan Strait will become internal waters and it can then annex Taiwan. Hidden behind this is legal warfare, and behind it hybrid warfare. They will use the law as a basis to annex Taiwan.

Lin, listing examples, noted that not only the European Parliament, but also the US, Japan and other countries have issue statements saying that China has deliberately distorted the meaning of UN resolution 2758 and it is a misinterpretation.

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2025-03-07

US arms procurements will be based on Taiwan’s needs: minister

An op-ed recently published in Japan’s Nikkei Asia about the development of Taiwan-US relations. It mentioned now that President Donald Trump is back in the White House, Taiwan may face increased pressure to purchase more US-made weaponry. Not as part of a strategic framework but as a way to offset the US trade imbalance with Taiwan.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo responded by clarifying that the relevant weaponry and equipment procurements were based on Taiwan’s defense needs, and he did not feel that the US was deliberately pushing Taiwan to buy weapons it did not need. Elbridge Colby, the US nominee for undersecretary of defense for policy, says that Taiwan’s defense budget should be close to 10% of its GDP. Koo said he would follow his president’s directives and do his best to reach 3%, based on Taiwan’s actual defense needs and its fiscal budget,

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2025-03-07