Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Tainan City Councilor Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) was indicted yesterday for inciting supporters to use violence against Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Vice Chairman Zhang Mingqing (張銘清) during his visit to Taiwan last week, with prosecutors suggesting a 14-month jail sentence.
Zhang was allegedly jostled by Wang and several pro-independence supporters during a private visit to Tainan’s Confucius Temple. In the melee, Zhang fell to the ground and was slightly injured.
“Video footage from the scene proves that Wang pushed Zhang and that made him fall. The actions of Wang and his supporters damaged Taiwan’s image,” Tainan District Prosecutors’ Office spokesman Lee Ching-wen (李靜文) said.
Six of Wang’s supporters present at the protest on Oct. 21 were also indicted.
Wang was indicted on charges of intimidation and assault.
Prosecutors also said that Lin Chin-hsun (林進勳), who jumped on the roof of Zhang’s car, should receive an eight-month sentence; while Tu Yung-nan (杜永南), Tseng Chao-chi (曾朝枝), Wu Ping-chin (伍平進) and Wang Chen-juei (王貞瑞) should be given six months each for trying to block Zhang’s car by standing in front of it.
Seventy-year-old Ho Kuei-hua (何桂花) was indicted for trying to attack Zhang by hitting his car with a crutch.
Prosecutors asked for a six-month sentence for her.
The six were indicted on charges of intimidation and interference and for “overthrowing” democratic values.
“Obviously, politics are interfering with our judicial system. The authorities have taken advantage of this incident to flatter the Chinese government, especially as it took less than one week for prosecutors to wrap up the case,” Wang said.
Wang made his remarks after learning of his indictment yesterday morning. He said he would cooperate and help prosecutors with their investigation, but accused prosecutor Su Tsung-jung (蘇聰榮), who is leading the case, of allowing politics to influence his actions.
“ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) is visiting Taiwan next week. I will still organize my supporters in protest at his visit, as I am afraid we will not have the chance to do so in future,” Wang said.
The DPP caucus also criticized the indictments at a press conference at the legislature yesterday morning.
“Shame on you,” DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) said before leaving the room.
“This is such a nice gift for China before Chen’s visit,” DPP Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said.
DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) asked prosecutors to prove they could be as efficient in other cases by completing their investigation and making indictments in the alleged blackmailing of Wang by gangsters.
“This [Wang’s indictment] was wrapped up in just nine days. We hope to see somebody indicted for blackmailing Wang within nine days as well,” she said.
At a separate press conference at DPP headquarters, the party requested that the video footage used for the indictment be made public.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS