Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Sounds Alarm on China’s Infiltration Tactics, Pledges Countermeasures
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has sounded the alarm on China’s escalating influence campaigns and infiltration efforts against the democratic island. At the heart of these concerns is China’s attempt to “absorb” Taiwan by exploiting its democratic systems and institutions. This is evident in Beijing’s efforts to infiltrate various segments of Taiwanese society, including organized crime groups, media personalities, and current and former military and police officers.
Lai emphasized that China’s actions are designed to divide, destroy, and subvert Taiwan from within. This is a stark reminder of the complexities of the Taiwan-China relationship and the challenges Taipei faces in maintaining its sovereignty.
In response to these concerns, Lai proposed 17 legal and economic countermeasures aimed at curbing China’s influence. These measures include:
– Strict Review of Visits and Residency Applications: Taiwan will closely scrutinize visits and residency applications by Chinese citizens to prevent potential infiltration.
– Resumption of Military Court: The government plans to revive the military court to handle cases related to national security and espionage.
– Regulation of Cross-Strait Flows: Taiwan will make “necessary adjustments” to the flows of money, people, and technology across the strait to prevent China from exploiting these channels for its own gain.
Lai’s administration will also issue “reminders” to Taiwanese actors and singers performing in China, cautioning them against making pro-Beijing comments that could be seen as endorsing China’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has condemned Lai’s remarks, warning that Beijing will take decisive measures if “Taiwan independence separatist forces” dare to cross the “red line.” However, Lai remains resolute, stating that Taiwan has no choice but to take more active actions to protect its sovereignty and democracy.
