National Police Agency Director-General Chen Ja-chin (陳家欽) yesterday vowed to conduct a strict investigation into an attack against Hong Kong singer, actor and democracy campaigner Denise Ho (何韻詩) on Sunday in Taipei.
Evidence showed that the attack was premeditated and organized, Chen said, adding that a task force would investigate “Chinese Unification Promotion Party [CUPP] personnel who might be involved in the case.”
Ho was speaking to reporters ahead of a rally in support of the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong when a masked man came from behind and splashed her with red paint.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
Dachen Nostalgia Culture Association member Hu Chih-wei (胡志偉) was arrested allegedly trying to flee the scene.
Liang Tai-fu (梁太富), an alleged accomplice of Hu, was also arrested at the scene, Taipei police have said.
Hu is believed to be a CUPP member.
Police yesterday said they have arrested seven other suspects, and seized water balloons, signs, a megaphone, a CUPP vest and other items.
Police said they believe the attack was organized by Chen Yu-ta (陳友達).
Chen, 54, and others allegedly met in New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋) on Sunday morning to plan the attack, police said, adding that only Ho was targeted.
Ho yesterday said she would take legal action against the suspects for intimidation, public humiliation and loss of property to prevent similar harassment and threats from happening to others.
Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and lawmakers across party lines condemned the attack.
CUPP members who splashed red paint on Ho apparently “have no respect for law,” New Power Party (NPP) Chairman Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明) said.
The CUPP was involved in an attack on Hong Kong democracy advocate Joshua Wong (黃之鋒) when he arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in 2017, Hsu said.
For a long time, the CUPP has been used as a front to cover for organized crime linked to Beijing, he said.
“China is reaching its fist into Taiwan,” he said.
To curb Chinese infiltration, lawmakers should pass legislation requiring people and organizations to disclose whether they are being controlled by a foreign government, he said.
Meanwhile, convener of the now-banned Hong Kong National Party Andy Chan (陳浩天) said recent incidents show that many Chinese nationals have been staging attacks on Hong Kongers in Taiwan in an organized manner to interfere with their freedom of speech.
While Taiwan provides a valuable space for Hong Kongers to express their voice in their fight for democracy, he said he hoped the Taiwanese government would crack down on China-controlled organizations in Taiwan before it is too late.
“‘Chinazi’ will not leave Taiwan or Hong Kong alone. It will infiltrate and launch attacks. It must be stopped,” he said.
Additional reporting by Wang Kuan-jen and CNA
‘UNFRIENDLY’: Changing the nationality listing of Taiwanese residents to ‘China’ goes against EU foreign policy as well as democratic and human rights principles, MOFA said Taiwan yesterday called on Denmark to correct its designation of the nationality of Taiwanese residents as “China” or face retaliatory measures. The Danish government in 2024 changed the nationality of Taiwanese citizens on their residence permits from “Taiwan” to “China.” The decision goes against EU foreign policy and contravenes democratic and human rights principles, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said. Denmark should present a solution acceptable to Taiwan as soon as possible and correct the erroneous designation to preserve the longstanding friendship between the two nations, Hsiao said. The issue could damage Denmark’s image and business reputation in Taiwan,
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
SUFFICIENT: The president said Taiwan has enough oil for next month, with reserves covering more than 100 days and natural gas enough for 12 to 14 days A restart plan for the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) and the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春) would be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of the month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, reversing the government’s policy to abolish nuclear energy. On May 17 last year, Taiwan shut down its last nuclear reactor and became the first non-nuclear nation in East Asia, fulfilling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s pledge of a “nuclear-free homeland.” Even without nuclear power, Taiwan can maintain a stable electricity supply until 2032,
RSS