Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍) today rescinded a proposal to abolish a clause in cross-strait law that forbids Taiwanese from engaging in activities detrimental to national interests while in China.
Commonly called the “Wu Sz-huai (吳斯懷) clause,” 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) prohibits serving and former military officers who hold the rank of major general or higher from participating in any “ceremony or activity ... [that] harm[s] the national dignity.”
It is named after Wu, a retired lieutenant general who stood for the Chinese national anthem and listened to a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) at a ceremony in Beijing in 2016.
Photo: Hsieh Chun-lin, Taipei Times
The amendment was originally proposed by KMT Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲), but submitted jointly by Weng and Chen.
However, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Shen Fa-hui (沈發惠), who chairs the Procedure Committee, today said that Chen submitted a request to withdraw the bill.
KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Szu-ming (林思銘) told reporters that it was an issue of timing.
There are too many bills under deliberation this session, and the KMT caucus does not want to create too much political turmoil that could lead to suspicion and confrontation between the parties, Lin said.
The party would therefore prioritize bills related to public welfare, Lin said, adding that Chen agreed to rescind the bill after discussions within the caucus.
The Wu Sz-huai clause has been the focus of debate recently, after former navy lieutenant commander Lu Li-shih (呂禮詩) told Chinese media at the Zhuhai Airshow last month that he wanted to show Taiwanese “how strong ‘our China’ has become.”
Lawmakers have called for amendments to broaden the scope of the clause, as Lu is not of a high enough rank to be punished under the act.
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