Police have said that Chang Wei (張瑋), a son of former Bamboo Union (竹聯幫) leader Chang An-le (張安樂), was involved in violence at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport during a recent visit by Hong Kong pro-democracy leaders, but added that Chang Wei has left Taiwan following questioning into the incident.
Hong Kong lawmakers Edward Yiu (姚松炎), Nathan Law (羅冠聰) and Eddie Chu (朱凱迪), as well as Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong (黃之鋒), arrived at the airport in the wee hours of Jan. 7 and were confronted by more than 100 protesters associated with the pro-unification Patriot Association, with several people wearing masks and black clothes attempting to physically assault them.
A review of surveillance footage showed that four people broke through a police cordon, uttering threats and charging at the visitors, but were tackled and subdued by police.
Photo provided by a reader
Among the four suspects were 40-year-old Chang Wei, 43-year-old China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP) senior official Kuo Chih-yuan (郭啟源) and 37-year-old Yu Hsueh-cheng (余學誠), police said.
Chang Wei is the second son of 68-year-old Chang An-le, who is commonly known as the “White Wolf” and was one of the Bamboo Union gang’s founders.
Chang An-le, whose criminal record includes drug dealing, extortion and violence, has promoted a pro-China ideology as CUPP chairman.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Police also identified senior Four Seas Gang (四海幫) leader Chen Tzu-chun (陳子俊) as allegedly among the main organizers of gangster and pro-China groups mobilized at the airport, which planned to incite violence and chaos on the Hong Kong party’s arrival.
Chen was detained incommunicado for suspeceted gang-related activities on Friday as part of a police crackdown on gangs, gambling and other illegal operations.
During questioning by Taoyuan police on Sunday last week, Chang Wei said he was a CUPP member and was at the airport at the time of the incident, but denied engaging in violent acts.
Chang Wei, Kuo and Yu were later summoned for questioning by the Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office and released without bail.
Sources said Chang Wei took advantage of his release to flee the nation, likely heading to Mexico, where he runs a company.
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
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS