The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus has initiated a motion condemning China for conspiring to ram then-vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim’s (蕭美琴) vehicle during her visit to Prague.
Hsiao visited the Czech Republic on March 18 last year and reports have surfaced that Chinese agents had followed her and considered colliding with her vehicle, although it remained in the planning stage.
Czech Military Intelligence Director Petr Bartovsky told Czech Radio in a report last week that the agency found out that their Chinese counterparts attempted to create conditions to carry out an incident involving Hsiao, which “did not go beyond the preparation stage.”
Photo: CNA
DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) yesterday said that the DPP caucus’ proposed motion would state that China committed “international terrorism” and demand that China apologize for the incident.
China should cease all activities intended to harass, intimidate or inflict violence targeting Taiwanese officials and people across the world, she said.
The motion would call on legislators to show unity amid China’s campaign of intimidation and meddling by approving legal amendments that would shore up national security, Wu said.
It would state that Taiwan, as a responsible member of the region and the international community, has a right to conduct official visits to other nations without interference, she said.
Taiwan has made positive contributions to the global community and that has made it a welcome partner to many nations, she cited the proposed motion as saying.
Beijing’s provocative military activities and threats — aimed at disrupting Taiwan’s normal exchanges with foreign nations — hurt the feelings of Taiwanese, undermine peace and stability, and pose a challenge to the rules-based international order, the motion was cited as saying.
Lawmakers must take appropriate measures to speed up reforms to bolster the nation’s defense capabilities and national security laws necessary for countering Chinese espionage aimed at infiltrating Taiwan or stealing technology, she said, citing the proposal.
The motion would also call on legislators to facilitate the government’s efforts to develop security ties with like-minded nations to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region, she added.
Additional reporting by CNA
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