Civic groups in Taiwan on Saturday called on the government to step up efforts to counter China’s campaign of transnational repression.
As more countries have been aware of the campaign — which refers to Beijing’s reaching across borders to silence dissent among the Chinese diaspora and exiles — Taiwan should join its democratic allies to tackle the issue, the groups said at a Human Rights Day press conference in Taipei.
The groups, including the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, Safeguard Defenders, and Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan, pointed out that the Taiwanese government should investigate Beijing-supported groups that seek to harass local or overseas Taiwanese.
Meanwhile, the government should establish a mechanism in line with global standards to help political dissents escape from any authoritarian or nondemocratic state, the groups said.
According to the groups, Taiwan should also reach more agreements on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters with other countries to avoid China’s intervention in cases involving the extradition of Taiwanese citizens, for instance.
Also attending the press conference, Taiwanese pro-democracy activist Lee Ming-che (???) expressed concerns about China’s increasing intimidation of Taiwan independence activists, particularly after U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August.
China’s threats to hold activists “criminally responsible” and extradite them from countries it has mutual legal assistance pacts with are hurting the human rights of Taiwanese people, according to Lee, who was released from prison in China earlier this year after serving a five-year prison sentence for “subversion of state power.”
Lee was arrested March 19, 2017 on a visit to China’s Guangdong Province, where he was accused of using online discussion groups to disseminate information and articles attacking the Chinese government.
The Taiwanese government should take action before the situation worsens, Lee said, suggesting Taiwan raise the issue on the international stage as much as possible.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel