The former head of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) Huang Fu-hsing chapter Tsang You-hsia (臧幼俠) attended an event in Hong Kong that promoted unification with China. During the Chinese national anthem, he stood at attention. These actions were an infringement of Article 9-3 of the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), which forbids participation by Taiwanese in any ceremony or activity held by a Chinese political organization that harms Taiwan’s national dignity. According to Article 91 Line 6 of the same law, the original agency where the person served — the Ministry of National Defense, in Tsang’s case — can, upon considering the severity of the breach, suspend 50 percent to 100 percent of the person’s monthly pension.
The event, hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification, was held in Hong Kong on Aug. 20. Members of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the vice chairperson of the People’s Political Consultative Conference, and the head of the United Front Work Department delivered idealistic speeches telling about peaceful unification. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee (李家超) also praised the “one country, two systems” framework for bringing countless advantages to Hong Kong.
There is no doubt that this event counts as a ceremony held by a Chinese organization. For Tsang to stand for the Chinese anthem is a serious infringement of the law. The Ministry of National Defense must be consistent in its application of the law and mete out swift punishment. Since Tsang loves China, perhaps the CCP would give him the money to make up for his canceled pension payments.
Chin Ching is an educator.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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