The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) today asked participants in today's protest against Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's (
The TSU and other pro-independence groups will demonstrate at CKS International Airport, where Lien will leave for China today.
TSU Secretary-General Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘) said the party said it had learned that gangsters and Chinese spies might infiltrate the protest to try to stir up violence. In order to avoid riots, the party urged protesters to remain peaceful and reasonable.
PHOTO: SONG CHIH-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
"If our information is true, it echoes rumors about China's fifth column," Chen said. "China's spies have come to Taiwan."
Chen called on people who are going to join the protest not to bring eggs or other items that could lead to serious conflict. The TSU asked participants to put green paper on their windshields so that police can spot them easily and direct them to the parking lot next to the airport's second terminal, which is the gathering place for the protesters.
Chen said about 50 tour buses full of protesters will join today's demonstration. With a counter-protest also planned by the New Party, he called on the government to help keep the situation under control.
Meanwhile, the TSU's spiritual leader, former president Lee Teng-hui (
"A party often claims that it is a party that always support reforms -- you know which party I'm talking about," Lee said. "However, judging from the current situation, that party has already tilted toward China."
Lee also blamed the government for its low-key attitude toward the trips by Lien and other opposition leaders to China, saying he was disappointed that the government has kept silent about unjust matters.
In contrast to the TSU and other pro-independence groups, DPP Secretary-General Lee Yi-yang (
"We do not support the protests. We don't encourage our members to throw eggs or cause conflict on this occasion. We hope that people stay peaceful and reasonable," Lee Yi-yang said.
As for Lien's trip to China, Lee Yi-yang called on Lien to represent the "reality" of Taiwan during his travels.
"About 90 percent of Taiwanese people voiced their opposition to Beijing's `Anti-Secession' Law, and since Lien has said that he values `reality,' he has to represent this reality to China," Lee Yi-yang said. "The reality in the Taiwan Strait is that Taiwan and China are not under the same jurisdiction and the Republic of China [ROC] is an independent nation."
"The so-called `peace agreement' or `cessation of war between the KMT and CCP' that Lien referred to this morning all involve the government's authority and a change to the country's future," Lee Yi-yang said. "Lien should clearly know that he is not empowered to make any verbal commitments or written agreements [with China]."
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
‘FORM OF PROTEST’: The German Institute Taipei said it was ‘shocked’ to see Nazi symbolism used in connection with political aims as it condemned the incident Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 yesterday amid an outcry over a Nazi armband he wore to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case on Tuesday night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and apparently covering the book with a coat. This is a serious international scandal and Chinese
COUNTERINTELLIGENCE TRAINING: The ministry said 87.5 percent of the apprehended Chinese agents were reported by service members they tried to lure into becoming spies Taiwanese organized crime, illegal money lenders, temples and civic groups are complicit in Beijing’s infiltration of the armed forces, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a report yesterday. Retired service members who had been turned to Beijing’s cause mainly relied on those channels to infiltrate the Taiwanese military, according to the report to be submitted to lawmakers ahead of tomorrow’s hearing on Chinese espionage in the military. Chinese intelligence typically used blackmail, Internet-based communications, bribery or debts to loan sharks to leverage active service personnel to do its bidding, it said. China’s main goals are to collect intelligence, and develop a