Two Mainland Reporters Expelled for Making Political Content

In Suppressing Free Speech, Premier Su Has Final Say

DPP Brazen Enough to Put Everything Public and Private into Its Bag

Fait Accompli: New Codeword on Taiwan Security

Two Mainland Reporters Expelled for Making Political Content

News Compiled and Reported by Taiwan Weekly

Because reporters Ai Kezhu and Lu Qiang of China’s Southeast Television made political talk show content in Taiwan, they were accused of violating relevant regulations. Taiwan revoked their journalist credentials and entry permits, and they left Taiwan by plane on July 3.

The Mainland Affairs Council pointed out on July 2 that the Southeast Television had rented studios and invited Taiwanese political pundits to produce the program “Strait Express”, and these activities did not conform to the applied purposes of the two reporters in Taiwan. According to the Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations, the relevant agencies revoked their credentials and entry permits and ordered them to leave on July 3.

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In Suppressing Free Speech, Premier Su Has Final Say
By Liu Bao-chun

China Times, July 4, 2020

Two mainland Chinese reporters from China's Southeast Television were expelled from Taiwan recently because they "carried out work beyond the scope of work they have applied to do in Taiwan." This is yet another maneuver by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the spirit of "anti-China" mentality. Premier Su Tseng-chang's comment that the punishment is "just right" not only carters to the popularism but also exposes DPP's intention to suppress the freedom of speech via this case.

Because of their different political views, the news coverage by mainland Chinese reporters naturally will not be the same with the Taiwanese media, most of which just sing the song of praise. But as long as the coverage does not concern with national security issues, it should be protected by the freedom of speech. This should be the true spirit of Taiwan’s democracy and freedom.

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From: https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20200704003287-262105

DPP Brazen Enough to Put Everything Public and Private into Its Bag

United Daily News Editorial, June 3, 2020

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) forcibly amended and passed the Farmland Water Conservation Law in the Legislative Yuan yesterday. Apart from changing the Irrigation Association from a legal person to a government agency, the chairman of the Irrigation Association will become a post appointed by government. Land and water right originally owned by the Irrigation Association will also become national property. When the DPP liquidated the Kuomintang, they at least did it through the “Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee” to implement such actions. Now, they even saved such procedure to nationalize the original jurisdiction of Irrigation Association and confiscate all of their assets directly. How brutal.

From: https://udn.com/news/story/7338/4675571

Fait Accompli: New Codeword on Taiwan Security
By Su Chi, Chairman of Taipei Forum

United Daily News, June 28, 2020

Senator Josh Hawley recently proposed a bill “Taiwan Defense Act” in the US Senate, asking the US to maintain the ability to deny a fait accompli by the People’s Republic of China against Taiwan. When the Tsai Ing-wen administration expresses its gratitude, it should also pay close attention to the new codeword therein on Taiwan’s security: “fait accompli.”

This French term appeared in the bill repeatedly, altogether 32 times. It was also given a definition: “The term ‘fait accompli’ means the strategy of the People’s Republic of China designed to allow the People’s Republic of China to use military force to seize control of Taiwan before the United States Armed Forces are able to respond effectively, while simultaneously deterring an effective combined joint response by the United States Armed Forces by convincing the United States that mounting such a response would be prohibitively difficult or costly.” The bill called it “the most stressing potential scenario,” and cited then Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Phil Davidson, Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command Lieutenant General David Berger, and the Pentagon’s “Indo-Pacific Strategy Report,” all essentially making the same point: China’s capabilities could seek to achieve a fait accompli that would make reversing Chinese gains more difficult, militarily and politically.

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From: https://udn.com/news/story/7339/4663710?fbclid=IwAR3pbl8FSUIZMOBQvInINpkjJgTqhnL3dljUtQA1128VKVbeK7Y_kL63kFA

June 29: Twenty (20) Kuomintang (KMT) legislators occupied the chamber of the Legislative Yuan on the evening of June 28 and sprayed paint on the podium to protest the pork-barrel politics behind President Tsai Ing-wen's nomination of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) heavyweight Chen Chu as president of the Control Yuan. However, 20 hours later, the KMT legislators were removed by majority DPP legislators. The Legislative Yuan is set to confirm Control Yuan personnel appointments on July 17.

July 1: The national security law takes effect in Hong Kong. President Tsai Ing-wen stated that the legislation will fundamentally affect human rights and democracy in Hong Kong. Taiwan will continue to provide Hong Kong people necessary humanitarian assistance. The Taiwan-Hong Kong Service Exchange Office, set up under the guidance of the Mainland Affairs Council, began operations.

July 1: Foreign Minister Joseph Wu announced that Taiwan and Africa's Somaliland will set up representative offices under the name "Taiwan Representative Office" and "Somaliland Representative Office." Somaliland became independent from Somalia in 1991 and, with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of $600, is one of the world's poorest countries. At present, Somaliland has yet to be recognized by any state and is not a member of the United Nations.

July 2: The Legislative Yuan passed the Irrigation Act. As of October 1, 17 irrigation associations in Taiwan will be converted into official organs, and over NT$70 billion (about US$2.3 billion) cash and NT$150 billion (about US$5 billion) will become public property. The move has angered many farmers, who came to the Legislative Yuan to protest the DPP administration for seizing private property at the expense of the most vulnerable workers. The KMT caucus of the Legislative Yuan announced that it would seek cross-partisan support to petition for interpretation by the Constitutional Court, Judicial Yuan.

July 3: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it will resume operations of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam, which symbolizes upgrade of U.S.-Taiwan relations to a global partnership. The Guam office was abolished by the Tsai administration in 2017 due to limited functionality and budgetary considerations.

July 6: The Marine Corps held a military exercise on July 3, and a special battle assault rubber craft overturned in the waters. Seven officers and soldiers fell into the sea, and three, with their lives in danger, were taken to the hospital. As of July 6, two were pronounced dead. A major in charge of the amphibious combat exercise training committed suicide in his office on July 5.