A prominent adviser to Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji (
The man, known in China as Justin Lin (林毅夫), an economics professor at China's Beijing University, who also advises the World Bank, is thought to have defected to China in 1979 by swimming the 2.3km from the outlying island of Kinmen to the Chinese coast.
Accompanied by DPP lawmaker Chen Chin-teh (陳金德), Lin's older brother Lin Wan-sung (林萬松) called on the government at a news conference yesterday to "let my little brother come home."
Although the former army commander is widely seen as a traitor, another DPP lawmaker, Trong Chai (
Under current regulations, Chinese nationals may apply for an entry permit to visit Taiwan to attend the funerals of family members.
Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration Fan Te-chu (
He added that Lin's relatives have not yet requested an entry permit for Lin.
Any decision on such an application, however, would involve a number of government ministries, and the Mainland Affairs Council's (MAC's) input would be crucial.
MAC Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong (
But he said that the government would certainly consider the case out of "humanitarian considerations."
The law obliges the government to consider every application.
Chen said the case was complex and that the MAC will seek legal advice on the matter before making a decision.
Chen made the remarks yesterday while answering questions from lawmakers.
Lin Cheng-yi is widely believed to have defected to China but has always been listed by the military as "missing," allegedly to hide the truth.
Lin had been held up in KMT government propaganda in the mid-1970s as a model patriot for giving up an opportunity to go to university in order to join the army.
Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) said yesterday that the Statute of Limitations requires that prosecutions for treason be carried out within 20 years of the alleged offense and that prosecutors will act in accordance with the law.
But when pressed by reporters if that meant Lin would be free from prosecution, Chen refused to make such a guarantee.
Under current law, treason is punishable by a minimum prison term of 10 years.
The maximum penalty is death.
Vice Minister of Defense Chen Chao-ming (
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source
CHINA REACTS: The patrol and reconnaissance plane ‘transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,’ the 7th Fleet said, while Taipei said it saw nothing unusual The US 7th Fleet yesterday said that a US Navy P-8A Poseidon flew through the Taiwan Strait, a day after US and Chinese defense heads held their first talks since November 2022 in an effort to reduce regional tensions. The patrol and reconnaissance plane “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,” the 7th Fleet said in a news release. “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.” In a separate statement, the Ministry of National Defense said that it monitored nearby waters and airspace as the aircraft