The Mainland Affairs Council is set to conduct an investigation into a Taiwanese artist who has taken an overtly pro-Beijing stance, claiming that Taiwan’s only name in the UN is “Taiwan, Province of China.” The council ought to be praised for its decision.
In the past, Taiwanese artists who made their careers in China have made statements each year congratulating China during its national day celebrations or by making statements such as: “I am Chinese” and “both sides [of the Taiwan Strait] are the same,” but they had yet to cross beyond the protective scope of freedom of speech and expression. They were simply denying the existence of the Republic of China, Taiwan, and engaging with a hostile state and harming our national interests.
Article 33-1, Paragraph 1 of the Act Governing Relations Between People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) states that “unless permitted by each competent authorities concerned, no individual, juristic person, organization or other institution of the Taiwan Area may engage in any of the following activities: 1. Any form of cooperative activity with the agencies, institutions or organizations of the Mainland Area which are political parties, the military, the administration or of any political nature, or which are involved in any political work against Taiwan or affect national security or interests.”
Article 90-2 of the act states that those who contravene the act could face a fine of not less than NT$100,000 (US$3,026), but not more than NT$500,000, and could face further fines.
Consequently, if Taiwanese artists go along with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi’s (王毅) proclamation distorting UN Resolution 2758, stating that “the only reference to the Taiwan region in the UN is Taiwan, Province of China,” they are involving themselves with the Chinese Communist Party government and military, and contravening the act.
Taiwanese artists who parrot or identify with Wang’s statements — essentially diminishing Taiwan or agreeing with its destruction — were born in Taiwan and enjoy the benefits conferred to them as citizens, yet are singing the Chinese Communist Party’s tune and denying our national existence.
The council should continue to harden its stance and vigorously implement the law, and perhaps go as far as to revoke the citizenship of such people. They should not be able to take part in our national health care system or obtain social benefits while disparaging the nation and advocating its demise.
Yeh Yu-cheng is a secretary at the Pingtung County Public Health Bureau.
Translated by Tim Smith
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