The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday demanded an explanation from Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) on why the government takes what the party says is a strong stance when facing Japan, “yet is so humble when facing China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍).”
The caucus said DPP lawmakers will grill Wang on the matter when he attends a legislative meeting tomorrow during which he is scheduled to make a presentation on Zhang’s four-day visit.
DPP Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said the government protested furiously in its recent demand that the Japanese media should not omit the word “national” from the name of the National Palace Museum when the museum’s collections are exhibited in Japan, but only said that it would expect China to “respect the choice of Taiwanese” when TAO officials, prior to Zhang’s visit, said that the future of Taiwan should be decided by all Chinese.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
Chen said he would ask Wang why the government is taking such a soft stance on China’s claim on Taiwan’s sovereignty, which is a much more serious issue than Japanese media outlets or exhibitions omitting the word “national” in their reporting on the National Palace Museum.
DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) said that he plans to ask Wang about the security measures during Zhang’s visit.
While the National Security Bureau denies involvement, security agents could be seen everywhere, he said.
Lee said that there have been too many controversial incidents, for instance, the government should explain why staff at the Novotel Hotel at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, accompanied by the police, could charge into a guest’s room without a warrant.
Separately yesterday, DPP spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) said the security measures ordered by the National Police Agency (NPA) during Zhang’s visit seriously harmed democracy and human rights in the country, adding that the law enforcement agency’s threats against news reporters were in violation of freedom of the press, and thus the DPP caucus would pursue the responsibilities of relevant government agencies at the legislature.
Lin added that the DPP would support Greater Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu’s (陳菊) apologies for injuries caused by the police’s handling of protesting students in Kaohsiung, and her decision to launch a probe into it.
“It has always been our belief that protesting is a right, while security maintenance is a responsibility, however, the proportionality should be take into consideration,” Lin said, and called on the NPA to launch a probe into the issue.
Lin condemned the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for its China-leaning policies despite China’s hostility toward Taiwan, saying that such policies have led to resentment among Taiwanese.
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