The government is working on national guidelines to counter China’s transnational repression, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said today, following reports that Beijing had instructed an unregistered agent to surveil the son of President William Lai (賴清德) in the US.
FBI Director Kash Patel on X yesterday said that the Chinese government had allegedly dispatched an operative in the US to surveil Lai’s family, including photographing and filming them, and recording vehicle license plate numbers.
Agents arrested the suspect, Wanying Heather Zhang (張婉瑩), at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday before attempting to fly to Shanghai.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Chiu told reporters before a legislative session that the council is working on amendments to the Anti-Infiltration Act (反滲透法) to help Taiwanese understand how to seek assistance when confronted with transnational repression.
Chiu said the case shows that Beijing's transnational repression is not limited to government officials, politicians or specific people.
It is rather an attempt to expand such tactics into collective intimidation targeting all Taiwanese, creating a chilling effect and extending its reach overseas, posing a serious threat to the safety and freedom of Taiwanese abroad, he said.
Taiwan has long been responding to the issue through preventive, protective and countermeasure policies, Chiu said.
The government would soon introduce public guidance explaining the nature of such activities and provide information on how to obtain assistance to ensure that people facing China's transnational repression do not feel isolated or helpless, he said.
Chiu also said that no country can tackle transnational repression alone, calling for collaboration among democratic allies to condemn and counter Chinese coercion.
In addition, Taiwan's current legal framework is inadequate to address China's transnational repression, he said.
While using local collaborators to tail or collect intelligence on individuals constitutes a felony in the US, Taiwan's laws do not fully address similar conduct, making legal reform imperative, he said.
The MAC is drafting amendments to the Anti-Infiltration Act and related legislation to protect national security and public rights, he said, urging the public to support the initiative.
Separately, Chiu commented on online criticism directed at Taiwanese television host Kevin Tsai (蔡康永) after he appeared at a campaign event for Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (沈伯洋).
The backlash from Chinese Internet users once again demonstrates the risks faced by Taiwanese pursuing careers in China if their political views differ from Beijing's, highlighting the stark divide between a free, democratic society and an authoritarian regime, he said.
He called on Beijing to respect Taiwan's democratic way of life and refrain from interfering in Taiwanese elections, as such tactics would not improve cross-strait relations.
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