The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) should not undermine cross-strait exchanges by having a “martial law” mentality, Ma Ying-jeou Foundation chief executive Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) said today as a visiting Chinese student delegation left Taiwan this morning.
Hsiao was referring to comments made by MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) yesterday that the government intends to pursue administrative action against the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation due to a student member of the delegation, whose visit was facilitated by the foundation, using the term “China, Taipei” to congratulate Taiwan for winning the WBSC Premier12 baseball tournament.
The term used by the student is different from the name Taiwan competed under in the tournament and other international sporting competitions — “Chinese Taipei.”
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
Chiu said yesterday that the student could face stricter assessments when applying to visit Taiwan in the future, and be barred from entry for one to five years.
As for the foundation, it could be restricted from inviting other Chinese groups for six months to five years, depending on the severity of the case, he added.
Hsiao said the 20-year-old female student had only used a “phrase that she normally uses,” and was not giving a “political speech.”
If the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government is to ban future Chinese groups from coming to Taiwan, this would be tantamount to “bullying” and “martial law,” Hsiao said.
During a banquet held for the delegation last night, every Chinese student thanked Taiwan and described Taiwanese as kind, friendly and welcoming, he said.
This is why we promote cross-strait exchanges, Hsiao added.
“China, Taipei” is not a “commonly used phrase” but a “legal framework” designed by China, DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) wrote on Facebook today.
“China, Taipei” means there is no room even for “Chinese Taipei” or “one China, with different interpretations,” Shen said in his post.
This would signify that Taiwan belongs to China under this legal framework, he added.
“United front” activities, like this visit, are meant to be “nutrients” for China to fight a legal war internationally, he said.
Taiwanese media outlets and people who support these activities would also serve such a purpose, he said.
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