National security chief tells people to hit the streets

The head of the National Security Bureau, Hsueh Shih-ming, yesterday calls on the public to take part in a March 26 street demonstration in order to protest against China's passing of the ``anti-secession'' law. PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

The nation's top security official yesterday urged people to take to the streets to protest China's "anti-secession" law, amid cries of dismay from legislators in the pan-blue camp.

National Security Bureau Director-General Hsueh Shih-ming (薛石民) said people should join a street demonstration scheduled for March 26 to show their displeasure at China's actions.

"The public must decide if they want to agree to such a law. If they do not like it, they should stand up and say it on March 26," Hsueh told the legislature yesterday.

His statement was the first time a National Security Bureau head has called for the public to take to the streets.

He said that if the public made no response to the law enacted by China, Beijing could then tell the international community "not to oppose it if the Taiwanese themselves are not against it."

China's rubber-stamp National People's Congress passed the anti-secession bill yesterday, which includes a clause authorizing the use of "non-peaceful means" against Taiwan.

Hsueh said that the protest should be a demonstration of the public's unity about the issue, instead of a partisan affair. He said that he hoped no political parties' flags appeared at the rally.

"The Chinese government has repeatedly said that it anticipates the Taiwanese people would agree to return to China some day. But now Taiwan should stand up and proclaim that this law is just alienating the Taiwanese people," he added.

He said that with the law, China can unilaterally decide when Taiwan has crossed one of its "red lines" and authorize the use of military force against Taiwan.

The National Security Bureau could not accept that, he added.

In response to the remarks, People First Party (PFP) Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) asked Hsueh whether -- as head of the National Security Bureau -- it was appropriate to encourage the public to join a street rally.

Lin said the rally was being organized by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), not by a civil organization, and that the national security chief should not back a party-organized activity.

Hsueh said that this is why he had asked political parties to withdraw from the upcoming rally. He said he was making the remarks for the good of the nation, not for the good of a political party.

DPP Legislator Lee Wen-chung (李文忠), however, said it was very courageous for Hsueh to make the remark.