The Mainland Affairs Council yesterday said its priority is ascertaining the truth behind Chinese dissident Zhang Xiangzhong’s (張向忠) defection to Taiwan before considering how to process his possible request for political asylum.
On the sidelines of a meeting of the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee in Taipei, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Katharine Chang (張小月) said so far she has only seen news reports about Zhang’s alleged intention to seek political asylum in Taiwan, but he has yet to make contact with any government agencies.
“As the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) does not cover political asylum requests, we normally grant the status of ‘special case of long-term residency’ to Chinese citizens with different political stances,” Chang said.
Should Zhang file a formal request for political asylum with the Ministry of the Interior’s National Immigration Agency, the government would place Zhang under the care of non-governmental organizations while it seeks to ascertain the truth and discuss the issue with concerned agencies, Chang said.
However, Chang said that it is early to say if Zhang would receive “special case of long-term residency” status.
Zhang’s case drew public attention after Radio Free Asia on Friday published an interview with him on its Web site.
The 48-year-old resident of China’s Shandong Province said he was jailed for three years for participating in a movement calling for civic spirit.
Zhang said he decided to abandon an eight-day tour of Taiwan last week after being inspired by Lee Ching-yu (李凈瑜), who has exhausted all efforts to secure the release of her husband, Taiwanese rights advocate Lee Ming-che (李明哲).
Lee Ming-che was detained after he entered China on March 19 over “activities that threaten China’s national security.”
Due to the suspicious timing of Zhang’s defection, several lawmakers yesterday voiced concerns over his case.
People First Party Legislator Chen Yi-chieh (陳怡潔) asked if a conspiracy might be involved given that tensions across the Taiwan Strait have increased since Lee Ming-che’s detention.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) said it is “bizarre and suspicious” that Beijing would allow a Chinese dissident who has served time in jail to travel to Taiwan, particularly at such a “sensitive time.”
Chao said since Zhang has not contacted any government agencies, he might have been sent by the Chinese government to disrupt Taiwan’s efforts to rescue Lee Ming-che.
Chang said the council would separate the two cases, adding that it has notified Beijing about Zhang’s violation of regulations governing tourist visits, in accordance with a 2008 cross-strait agreement.
OFFLINE: People who do not wish to register can get the money from select ATMs using their bank card, ID number and National Health Insurance card number Online registration for NT$6,000 (US$196.32) cash payments drawn from last year’s tax surplus is to open today for eligible people whose national ID or permanent residency number ends in either a zero or a one, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday. Officials from the ministry revealed which days Taiwanese and eligible foreigners would be able to register for the cash payments at a joint news conference with the Ministry of Digital Affairs. Online registration is to open tomorrow for those whose number ends in a two or three; on Friday for those that end in a four or five: on Saturday
Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) officials are investigating why a Starlux Airlines flight to Penang, Malaysia, returned to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport nearly two hours after takeoff yesterday morning. The airline said in a statement that Flight JX721 to Penang took off from Taoyuan airport at 9:20am. “After the dashboard showed a signal of an abnormality in the hydraulic system, the captain followed standard operating procedures and returned the flight to Taoyuan airport for safety precautions,” the airline said, adding that the flight landed safely at the airport at 11:04am. The airline arranged for the passengers to have lunch after the flight landed and
TECH PROGRAM: A US official said that an important part of the delegation’s trip would be to meet with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co executives The US is to send officials in charge of chip development to Taiwan, Japan and South Korea to promote cooperation in the global semiconductor supply chain, the US Department of Commerce said on Tuesday. Chips Program Office Director Michael Schmidt announced the visit, which marks the first time officials from the office are to visit the three nations since it was set up in September last year. “As semiconductors and technologies continue to evolve, the United States will keep working with allies and partners to develop coordinated strategies to ensure that malign actors cannot use the latest technologies to undermine our collective
WORKING UP AN APPETITE: Sales at the Rueifong Night Market surged 20 to 30 percent, while seats at Liouhe Night Market were packed until 1am, market officials said South Korean pop band Blackpink’s concerts over the weekend in Kaohsiung helped draw large crowds to local night markets, the Kaohsiung City Government said yesterday. The two concerts on Saturday and Sunday at Kaohsiung National Stadium drew more than 90,000 people. The city government offered NT$50 vouchers to spend locally to concertgoers who showed their ticket stubs. Liouhe Night Market (六合夜市) management committee head Chuang Chi-chang (莊其章) said that crowds over the weekend surged at about 10pm and the market remained packed until 1:30am. “Almost all the seats were filled,” Chuang said. Night market stall owners had stocked up in expectation of an increased number
RSS