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China Conducts Military Exercises, President Tsai Warns Intruders

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Su Chi: China May Launch “Punitive Strike" to Teach Taiwan a Lesson

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For several days, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) intruded and harassed Taiwan's southwest airspace. Recently, the Ministry of National Defense released a map illustrating the disturbance caused by PLA aircrafts.
(Photo from: United Daily News)

China Conducts Military Exercises, President Tsai Warns Intruders

United Daily News, September 11 and12, 2020

 

Recently, both U.S. and Chinese military aircraft and ships have continuously appeared in the airspace and sea around Taiwan. In the past few days, a reconnaissance vessel of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has also appeared waters off Taitung and Hualien (on east coast). It was suspected of spying on our military bases. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated that all was under control and close monitoring.

National Security officials said that an unscheduled press conference of the MND on the night of September 10 was the first more complete disclosure of the movements of the PLA. A simultaneous press conference by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was meant for making China’s military actions "transparent" to the international community and publicly shared relevant security information with countries in the region and around the world. President Tsai attended two national security-related functions in one day on the 11th to declare her position on protecting national security and inviolability of Taiwan’s sovereignty.

…read more

From: 

https://udn.com/news/story/10930/4851507

https://udn.com/news/story/10930/4854117

Su Chi, former secretary-general of the National Security Council, believes that amid tensions in U.S.-China-Taiwan relations, Taiwan should take precaution against the mainland launching a "punitive strike" to teach Taiwan a lesson.
(Photo from: United Daily News)

Su Chi: China May Launch “Punitive Strike" to Teach Taiwan a Lesson

United Daily News, September 12, 2020

 

In face of the United States playing the “Taiwan card,” former Secretary-General of the National Security Council Su Chi said today that the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen is acting as if it has bipolar disorder. From “picked up the gun” in the previous time turns into “picked up the machine gun”. Su warns that during the tense situation among the United States, China, and Taiwan, Taiwan should pay attention to the possibility of a "small attack" from the mainland, as a form of a warning and punishment.

 

On September 12, Su attended the "Strategic Dialogue: The Future of Taiwan-US-China” forum organized by the Association for Maritime Affairs and Policy of the Republic of China. He first talked about the setup of the United States, China, and Taiwan. He pointed out that the current U.S.-China-Taiwan setup is at one of its most dangerous times. It has never been in this situation for the past 70 years. The United States, China, and Taiwan are all ruled under hawks, all have strong motives, and all have not had any communication with each other.

From: https://udn.com/news/story/7331/4854994

The Ill-Gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee (Party Assets Committee) followed suit by asking the seven judges of the Taipei High Administrative Court who had applied for the constitutional interpretation to recuse themselves from nine court cases they were trying.
(Photo from: United Daily News)

Over-Powerful Government Pursues Judges and Elected Representatives

United Daily News Editorial, September 7, 2020

 

Recently, the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen has taken two rare and consecutive judicial actions to pursue judges and city councilors. First, after the Justices of the Constitutional Court, Judicial Yuan, made the interpretation that the Act Governing the Settlement of Ill-Gotten Party Assets (Party Assets Act) was constitutional, the Ill-Gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee (Party Assets Committee) followed suit by asking the seven judges of the Taipei High Administrative Court who had applied for the constitutional interpretation to recuse themselves from nine court cases they were trying.

 

Second, Kuomintang (KMT) Tainan City councilors Wang Chia-chen and Lee Chung-tsen held a press conference questioning the appearance of forged triple stimulus vouchers, and the Tainan police referred them to the court. Thereafter, the Tainan court ruled not to punish the councilors, but the Tainan police was ordered to file an appeal. The political purpose of the above two cases is above the judicial meaning.

…read more

 

From: https://udn.com/news/story/7338/4840303

Former Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, who was supposed to represent the KMT to attend the Straits Forum in Xiamen, Fujian Province, was revealed to have met in advance with President Tsai, and observers speculated whether Wang would act as an envoy for Tsai. Moreover, the mainland's China Central Television (CCTV) mocked Wang that his visit is meant to beg for peace. For this reason, the KMT decided not to attend the Straits Forum.
(Photo from: China Times)

September 8: In an op-ed published by the United Daily News, a junior high school teacher alleged that the new curriculum for eighth graders greatly reduced Chinese history content. For example, discussion about the Three Kingdoms period and Wu Zetian is absent, stirring controversy. The National Academy for Education Research responded that because eighth grade students only receive a period of history education a week. Under the framework of surveying the past to understand the present, it is difficult to demand publishers to include specific content. But educators are free to exercise their discretion in teaching.

September 9: Former Chairman Shih Mu-chin of the Public Functionary Disciplinary Sanction, Judicial Yuan, was impeached by the Control Yuan last month for his long-standing improper contact with involved parties. Control Yuan member Wang Mei-yu and Kao Yung-cheng stated that the investigation found several members of the judiciary and prosecution involved. They requested that the Executive Yuan and Judicial Yuan within two months investigate and punish accordingly and expose the facts to the public.

September 11: Spokesman Ting Yun-kung of the Office of the President was exposed that during his tenure as director of the Kaohsiung Information Bureau from 2014 to 2017, he concealed his engagement and was romantically involved with female journalists and had sex in the director's office. Ting later forced the pregnant journalist to receive an abortion and engaged romantically with other women, stirring harsh criticism from the public. Ting was permitted to resign from his Office of the President spokesman post on September 9.

Control Yuan Member Chih Hui-jung and Wang Mei-yu stated that they have filed to investigate Ting's case and will interview Control Yuan President Chen Chu, Ting's former superior, if necessary. According to various reports, Chen Chu received an appeal about the incidents but did not deal with it, allowing Ting to rise politically to the positions of deputy spokesman of the Executive Yuan and spokesman of the Office of the President.

September 11: Another case of mainland Chinese face masks labeled as made in Taiwan. A company in Changhua imported face masks from mainland China and repackaged them as Taiwanese-made medical face masks for sale. The company's leader was interviewed by the prosecution on September 10 and was released on a NT$2 million (about US$68,000) bail. The company posted on its official website an announcement regarding product returns.

Another man in Taipei set up an underground factory to produce counterfeit medical masks but marketed them in the name of a company as part of the national face mask production team, making illegal gains of $5 million (about US$171,000). The prosecution was granted permission to detain the man on September 11.

The Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, announced that effective September 17, each piece of domestic Taiwanese face masks must be individually labeled "MD" and "Made in Taiwan." Unsold products on the selves will have to be withdrawn by December 17 and stamped by health authorities before they may be sold.

September 12: The Kuomintang (KMT) announced on September 8 that former Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng will lead a delegation to Xiamen will represent the party at the Straits Forum. Wang was expected to meet Chairman Wang Yang of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The Straits Forum will be the largest cross-strait people-to-people exchange since communication and exchanges between the two sides were cut off due to the pandemic this year.

Unexpectedly, Wang's prior meeting with President Tsai led to speculation whether he would act as an official envoy, and news anchor Li Hong of the mainland's China Central Television (CCTV) commented that Wang's visit is to beg for peace in time of war, causing controversy. On September 12, KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang demanded an apology, or else the visit might be canceled. China's Taiwan Affairs Office, State Council, and CCTV immediately tried to intercede and put out the fire: They changed their remarks to commend Wang and urged the KMT to attend the Straits Forum.

Update: The KMT announced that it would not attend the Straits Forum officially as a political party on September 14.