An anti-infiltration bill proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party, which is pushing it through the Legislative Yuan, has met strong opposition from Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) lawmakers, but it is still expected to be passed into law before the end of this year.
The first article of the bill states that the law is intended to prevent infiltration and interference by external enemies; ensure national security and social stability; and maintain the nation’s sovereignty, and its freedom, democracy and constitutional order.
Although no countries are mentioned by name, the phrase “external enemies” is generally understood to refer to the only country that harbors a deep animosity toward Taiwan and covets its territory: China. It is no surprise that the KMT and the PFP, which both maintain frequent and intensive contacts — and act in collusion — with China, are so strongly opposed to the bill.
Red China has been making good use of its Confucius Institutes in combination with individuals, media outlets, non-governmental organizations and political donations to infiltrate academic and political circles in European and North American democracies.
It has used the academic and political freedoms that exist in these democracies to destroy those freedoms.
China’s actions have already been exposed and countermeasures against these institutes have been taken on several occasions, with one Confucius Institute after another being closed down.
Australia has its Espionage and Foreign Interference Act, while the US has the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act and the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and it is pushing for enactment of a countering the Chinese government and Communist Party’s political influence operations act.
In Canada, there is Bill C-76 on campaign advertising transparency, which bans foreign institutions from paying for party campaign advertising.
Last month, the UK parliament issued a report warning that the higher education system was overconfident. It said that higher education institutions in the UK severely underestimate the risk of Chinese interference, and that vigilance and existing response plans in the government and school administrations is clearly insufficient.
Taiwan is on the front line of Chinese expansion and infiltration.
Self-confessed Chinese spy William Wang Liqiang (王立強) said that China is using its cyberarmy and political donations to control Taiwan’s elections.
Was this just empty talk, or is it true, as they say, that where there is smoke, there is fire?
Taiwan has rushed to draft the anti-infiltration bill — better late than never.
Does anyone really oppose it, or is it just people in another nation trying their best to infiltrate Taiwan by all means or traitors working against Taiwan’s best interests by colluding with that country?
Chang Kuo-tsai is a former deputy secretary-general of the Taiwan Association of University Professors and a former National Tsing Hua University professor.
Translated by Perry Svensson
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
The past few months have seen tremendous strides in India’s journey to develop a vibrant semiconductor and electronics ecosystem. The nation’s established prowess in information technology (IT) has earned it much-needed revenue and prestige across the globe. Now, through the convergence of engineering talent, supportive government policies, an expanding market and technologically adaptive entrepreneurship, India is striving to become part of global electronics and semiconductor supply chains. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of “Make in India” and “Design in India” has been the guiding force behind the government’s incentive schemes that span skilling, design, fabrication, assembly, testing and packaging, and
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s (李顯龍) decision to step down after 19 years and hand power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong (黃循財), on May 15 was expected — though, perhaps, not so soon. Most political analysts had been eyeing an end-of-year handover, to ensure more time for Wong to study and shadow the role, ahead of general elections that must be called by November next year. Wong — who is currently both deputy prime minister and minister of finance — would need a combination of fresh ideas, wisdom and experience as he writes the nation’s next chapter. The world that
As former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) wrapped up his visit to the People’s Republic of China, he received his share of attention. Certainly, the trip must be seen within the full context of Ma’s life, that is, his eight-year presidency, the Sunflower movement and his failed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, as well as his eight years as Taipei mayor with its posturing, accusations of money laundering, and ups and downs. Through all that, basic questions stand out: “What drives Ma? What is his end game?” Having observed and commented on Ma for decades, it is all ironically reminiscent of former US president Harry