After news surfaced about the alleged Chinese infiltration of the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) through Taiwanese businessman Yeh Yu-chen (葉裕鎮), the public became highly concerned. Even the US expressed concerns that Taiwan's military technology had been stolen. Reportedly, besides this known espionage case, the government has also targeted several individuals, including retired military officials, Taiwanese businessmen and members of the media, for investigation. Some of these investigations are about to be concluded. Such incidents are simply the tip of the iceberg for China's unification campaign, reminding us that we must remain ever vigilant.
In the past, the military intelligence work was often thought of as tight-knit. Anti-infiltration training and education within the military was also well implemented. Therefore, Chinese infiltration plots were usually prevented. However, in recent years, repeated incidents of infiltration by Chinese spies have occurred.
Not only were retired military officials and intelligence personnel placed on China's payroll, but even military and intelligence personnel in active service. The situation indicates that many loopholes or even derelictions by the relevant government agencies exist in our anti-infiltration network. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate and punish those guilty of dereliction.
Actually, the CSIST case is much more than just an espionage case. It cannot be seen as a simply a case of successful Chinese infiltration. We believe that what is most notable about the case is it highlights some people's lack of national identification with Taiwan. The existence of this phenomenon is essentially the nursing ground of successful Chinese infiltration. Plus, the ruling and opposition camps have become obsessed with promoting cross-strait relationships, completely ignoring legislative work needed to build an adequate national security network. As a result, many injuries that could have been prevented instead had to be treated afterward. If things continue this way, Taiwan will sooner or later sink to the bottom of the ocean.
Over the past decade, the internal political bickering has been endless, and national identification of the ruling and opposition camps has become increasingly polarized. Those politicians with an ambiguous national identification have repeatedly used the promotion of cross-strait exchanges to echo China's view, in which Taiwan's sovereign status is dwarfed. They have been willing to serve as weapons used by China against Taiwan.
In recent years, the most glaring example is the way that the pan-blue lawmakers have repeatedly organized delegations to visit China, behaving as if they were "provincial representatives" in front of Chinese leaders. Moreover, some opposition politicians who used to exalt anti-communist ideals now join forces with China in selling out Taiwan. Their conduct is truly shameful.
In recent years, more than a few retired military officers and soldiers unable to adjust to the democratization of Taiwan have moved to China. Some of them not only continue to receive retirement pensions from Taiwan, but in fact help out China both openly and covertly to push for Chinese unification. The resulting harm to Taiwan is not hard to imagine. A minority of intelligence personnel commited crimes in Taiwan and then escaped to China to seek asylum. China welcomes these people with open arms, on the condition they pass on intelligence. Some lawmakers revealed that a few CSIST personnel invested in China after their retirement from the military. Many of them were then bought off by China. Now this problem is hitting the military intelligence agencies of Taiwan as well.
Another reason that China has been able to get away with infiltrating Taiwan is fact that we are a democratic society. As a democratic country, Taiwan protects the freedoms and rights of people. Under the protective umbrella of democracy, those who work for China can freely sell out their country. Moreover, pro-China camps and the media often speak out in their defense. Even in situations where they were caught spying for China or selling out intelligence, they are defended under the name of freedom and human rights. This is no different from trampling democracy in the name of democracy.
It is worrisome that it is not just the military intelligence that is being leaked to China. In recent years, many people who became jobless after the change of government, or who retired from government agencies or government research institutes resentfully went to China in search of opportunities. Their bargaining chips for opportunities in China were often government's confidential manufacturing know-hows, and agricultural technologies. As for China, they also target those who are out of power and resentful of the reality for recruitment as infiltration tools. Individuals such as these who bring Taiwan's confidential technologies and know-how to China, yet bring back the unification virus to Taiwan are sources of much danger.
Not long ago, SARS, which originated in China, hit Taiwan due to similar reasons.
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) indicated that the cross-strait contacts are very frequent and intensive. Therefore, there is truly no need to further relaxation of control on such contacts, and to sacrifice the national sovereignty, dignity and people's safety and welfare for the convenience of of a small minority. The CSIST espionage case is another threat to Taiwan's security. The incident demonstrates that what ought to be on our mind is most certainly not the relaxation of regulations on cross-strait relationships, but to give top priority to the protection of the welfare of the nation and the people.
During the last legislative session at the Legislative Yuan, because the opposition and ruling camps hold divergent views about how much cross-strait exchanges ought to be deregulated, the bill amending the statute governing the cross-strait relationships was not passed. Now the CSIST case reminds both sides about the need to control and manage cross-strait contacts. After years of massive deregulation, Taiwan's security has been plunged into grave peril.
Therefore, the statue governing the cross-strait relationship must be amended to give tougher regulations. All other relevant domestic laws must adhere to the principles of equal sovereignty on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and "one country on each side." Do not allow those who have betrayed Taiwan to hide in the shadows. Don't give them the opportunity to become China's fifth column in Taiwan. To keep the democratic order of Taiwan from collapsing internally, our countrymen should use their votes to filter out politicians whose hearts belong to China. Do not let those who have betrayed Taiwan to continue sucking dry the hard-earned money of the taxpayers.
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