Chinese dissident Zhang Xiangzhong (張向忠) on Friday said that he would seek political asylum in Taiwan.
Zhang was part of a tour group on an eight-day tour of Taiwan that arrived on Wednesday.
The Tourism Bureau yesterday said that it was told by the travel agency hosting the group that on Thursday Zhang left the hotel it booked for them and his whereabouts were unknown.
Photo taken from a video on Radio Free Asia’s YouTube channel
Zhang, 48, from Shandong Province, said in an interview with Radio Free Asia that he was jailed for three years after taking part in the “New Citizens’ Movement,” a group that calls for civic spirit based on freedom, justice and love.
Since being released in July last year, he has been under constant surveillance, Zhang said.
Zhang said he was inspired by Lee Ching-yu (李凈瑜), the wife of Taiwanese rights advocate Lee Ming-che (李明哲), when considering leaving the tour group and is to ask the government for political asylum.
Lee Ming-che, a former Democratic Progressive Party worker who is a staff member at Wenshan Community College in Taipei and a volunteer at non-governmental organization Covenants Watch, was detained in China after entering the city of Zhuhai from Macau on March 19.
Lee Ching-yu issued a public letter after the Chinese government annulled her “Taiwan Compatriot Travel Document” on Monday that prevented her from visiting China to search for her husband.
Zhang said he has been moved by Lee Ching-yu’s indomitable spirit and unwillingness to bow to Beijing.
Zhang later yesterday was quoted by the Central News Agency as saying that he has yet to receive word from the government, adding that he plans to visit the Mainland Affairs Council on Tuesday to seek political asylum.
Zhang said he has acquaintances in Taiwan to assist with arranging temporary living quarters and other affairs.
Meanwhile, the council yesterday said that Zhang’s whereabouts were not known, while the National Police Administration and the National Immigration Administration have been informed of Zhang’s actions.
The Tourism Bureau said that it has asked the travel agency to search for Zhang.
Travel agencies — which act as guarantors for visitors using their services — could face a fine of NT$100,000 if a Chinese tourist stays beyond their allotted time.
The Regulations Governing the Approval of People of the Mainland Area Visiting Taiwan for Purposes of Tourism (大陸地區人民來台從事觀光活動許可辦法) states that Chinese tourists can stay in Taiwan for a maximum of 15 days.
CALL FOR SUPPORT: President William Lai called on lawmakers across party lines to ensure the livelihood of Taiwanese and that national security is protected President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday called for bipartisan support for Taiwan’s investment in self-defense capabilities at the christening and launch of two coast guard vessels at CSBC Corp, Taiwan’s (台灣國際造船) shipyard in Kaohsiung. The Taipei (台北) is the fourth and final ship of the Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessels, and the Siraya (西拉雅) is the Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) first-ever ocean patrol vessel, the government said. The Taipei is the fourth and final ship of the Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessels with a displacement of about 4,000 tonnes, Lai said. This ship class was ordered as a result of former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) 2018
UKRAINE, NVIDIA: The US leader said the subject of Russia’s war had come up ‘very strongly,’ while Jenson Huang was hoping that the conversation was good Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and US President Donald Trump had differing takes following their meeting in Busan, South Korea, yesterday. Xi said that the two sides should complete follow-up work as soon as possible to deliver tangible results that would provide “peace of mind” to China, the US and the rest of the world, while Trump hailed the “great success” of the talks. The two discussed trade, including a deal to reduce tariffs slapped on China for its role in the fentanyl trade, as well as cooperation in ending the war in Ukraine, among other issues, but they did not mention
HOTEL HIRING: An official said that hoteliers could begin hiring migrant workers next year, but must adhere to a rule requiring a NT$2,000 salary hike for Taiwanese The government is to allow the hospitality industry to recruit mid-level migrant workers for housekeeping and three other lines of work after the Executive Yuan yesterday approved a proposal by the Ministry of Labor. A shortage of workers at hotels and accommodation facilities was discussed at a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee. A 2023 survey conducted by the Tourism Administration found that Taiwan’s lodging industry was short of about 6,600 housekeeping and cleaning workers, the agency said in a report to the committee. The shortage of workers in the industry is being studied, the report said. Hotel and Lodging Division Deputy Director Cheng
TOKYO SUMMIT: The new Japanese PM’s words have demonstrated Japan’s ‘firm position on urging the prioritization of cross-strait peace,’ the foreign ministry said Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday thanked US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for supporting peace in the Taiwan Strait, a day after the two at a summit in Tokyo emphasized the importance of regional stability and ahead of a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in South Korea today. The previous day’s meeting was the first time Takaichi had met with the US leader since becoming Japanese prime minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Since taking office on Tuesday last week, Takaichi has urged the international community to
RSS