A group of 30 domestic and international human rights groups, including the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, yesterday released a joint statement urging foreign governments and businesses to heed their conscience and not become “hit men” for China’s authoritarian regime.
On the surface, the Chinese government’s demand that international airlines change their references to Taiwan only upsets Taiwanese and foreigners who sympathize with Taiwan, but in reality, a bigger problem lies beneath, the statement said.
Beijing is attempting to expand its power beyond its borders and its behavior is becoming increasingly unrestrained, it said.
Photo: CNA
Taiwanese human rights advocate Lee Ming-che (李明哲) was arrested and detained by Chinese authorities when he entered China in March last year, and he was on Nov. 28 last year sentenced to five years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power” because he promoted democracy and human rights on the Internet, it added.
A rising number of Taiwanese fraud suspects who have allegedly committed crimes in other nations are being sent to China for trial at Beijing’s request, the statement said.
If Beijing asks other nations or airlines to send Taiwanese who it suspects of “inciting subversion of state power” or of contravening its “Anti-Secession” Law to China to face trial, would they also cooperate, the human rights groups asked.
China’s human rights record has worsened over the past few years and its “one country, two systems” promise to Hong Kong has also completely vanished, they said.
Beijing has also spared no effort to suppress Taiwan, forcing more nations to cut diplomatic ties and even directly impinging upon the freedom of speech, personal freedoms and right to a fair trial of Taiwanese, it said.
They called on foreign governments to condemn China’s expansion of its jurisdiction and its persecution of human rights defenders, and to ask Beijing to make improvements at this year’s UN Universal Periodic Review of China.
AIR DEFENSE: The Norwegian missile system has proved highly effective in Ukraine in its war against Russia, and the US has recommended it for Taiwan, an expert said The Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) Taiwan ordered from the US would be installed in strategically important positions in Taipei and New Taipei City to guard the region, the Ministry of National Defense said in statement yesterday. The air defense system would be deployed in Taipei’s Songshan District (松山) and New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水), the ministry said, adding that the systems could be delivered as soon as the end of this year. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has previously said that three NASAMS would be sold to Taiwan. The weapons are part of the 17th US arms sale to
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS: The suspects formed spy networks and paramilitary groups to kill government officials during a possible Chinese invasion, prosecutors said Prosecutors have indicted seven retired military officers, members of the Rehabilitation Alliance Party, for allegedly obtaining funds from China, and forming paramilitary groups and assassination squads in Taiwan to collaborate with Chinese troops in a possible war. The suspects contravened the National Security Act (國家安全法) by taking photos and drawing maps of key radar stations, missile installations and the American Institute in Taiwan’s headquarters in Taipei, prosecutors said. They allegedly prepared to collaborate with China during a possible invasion of Taiwan, prosecutors said. Retired military officer Chu Hung-i (屈宏義), 62, a Republic of China Army Academy graduate, went to China
REGIONAL PEACE: The US is supporting Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities by providing the nation with defensive arms and services, as it aims to maintain cross-strait stability The US on Friday reiterated its support for Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities in a statement affirming its commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. The White House said that Washington has supported Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities through a range of security assistance authorities and resources, including the first-ever use of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for Taiwan, as well as International Military Education and Training (IMET). US President Joe Biden had identified the Indo-Pacific as the critical region for the future of the US and the world, it said. “In pursuit of regional peace, security and stability, we have reinvested in our defense
INSURRECTION: The NSB said it found evidence the CCP was seeking snipers in Taiwan to target members of the military and foreign organizations in the event of an invasion The number of Chinese spies prosecuted in Taiwan has grown threefold over a four-year period, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said in a report released yesterday. In 2021 and 2022, 16 and 10 spies were prosecuted respectively, but that number grew to 64 last year, it said, adding that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was working with gangs in Taiwan to develop a network of armed spies. Spies in Taiwan have on behalf of the CCP used a variety of channels and methods to infiltrate all sectors of the country, and recruited Taiwanese to cooperate in developing organizations and obtaining sensitive information
RSS