The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday expressed support for a proposed amendment that would sanction retired military officers who participate in activities held by Chinese political agencies or organizations, and engage in “conduct that harms national dignity.”
Article 9-3 of 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) restricts the sanctions to “deputy minister[s] as a political appointee, major general or a higher rank post in national defense, foreign affairs, China affairs or government agencies related to national security, or who served as the chief officer of intelligence agencies.”
Conduct that is harmful to national dignity includes saluting flags or emblems, singing anthems or any other similar behaviors symbolizing the political authority of China.
Photo: Fang Wei-li, Taipei Times
Those who contravene the regulation could see their monthly pension and medals removed, depending on the severity of their offenses.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chiu Chi-wei (邱志偉), who proposed the amendment, said that the personnel subject to sanctions should be expanded to include retired military officers, after former navy lieutenant commander Lu Li-shih (呂禮詩) at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai last week said that the event demonstrated “our China’s” strength.
Veterans Affairs Council Minister Yen De-fa (嚴德發) also endorsed the amendment yesterday.
MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said that the council also thinks the problem needs to be addressed.
“However, we also want to remind the public that laws cannot fully regulate all sorts of conduct. People need to realize that they must not cross certain lines for moral reasons and to maintain a good conscience. People need to cherish Taiwan’s democracy, instead of harming our freedom using their freedom of speech,” Liang said.
“Without the Republic of China, we would have no freedom at all. We saw what happened to Next Media founder Jimmy Lai (黎智英) and 47 democracy leaders who were jailed in Hong Kong on Wednesday,” he said.
Meanwhile, Liang said that Bo Guagua (薄瓜瓜), the son of former Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Politburo member Bo Xilai (薄熙來), applied to enter Taiwan as a Chinese national to reunite with his wife.
“When reviewing his application, we did not know that he has British citizenship,” he said.
Asked what the council would do if Bo Guagua tries to stay in Taiwan for the long run, and whether giving him residency would send a signal to corrupt officials in China that Taiwan is a haven, Liang said that the council would handle Bo Guagua’s residency application based on the standard procedures if he files one.
“For corrupt officials in China, the first choice would be to go to the US, not Taiwan,” he said.
Liang also confirmed that 85 Chinese nationals have filed applications to enter Taiwan to attend the Golden Horse Awards tomorrow.
A total of 276 Chinese movies participated in the event, only one movie short of that from Taiwan, he added.
“We encourage people to watch some of the Chinese movies about COVID-19 restrictions and social phenomenon that might not be aired publicly in China,” he said.
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