More than a month after Taiwanese leader William Lai unveiled the so-called“17-point strategy” to tighten cross-strait exchanges, local media reported that, a number of non-governmental organizations working on cross-strait exchanges have announced an“Indefinite suspension of activities,” triggering public concern.
Cross-strait exchange associations to be investigated
Taiwan’s“United Daily News” reported on the 21st that after William Lai issued the“Lai 17 items,” people from all walks of life were worried that the cross-strait situation was becoming more tense, in the past, many organizations that were interested in cross-strait non-governmental exchanges or discussions of cross-strait affairs were worried that their participation in relevant activities on the mainland or in Taiwan would be targeted. Some organizations simply announced that they would“Suspend their activities indefinitely.” Some simply disbanded, “To avoid unnecessary situations.”.
According to an earlier report by Taiwan’s“China times,” Taiwan’s“Ministry of the Interior” conducted an inventory of organizations that have close contacts with the mainland, and found that of the 22 social organizations that handle business related to cross-strait exchanges and new residents, there are 19 conference services are not functioning properly, a high proportion of 86% . Among them, 6 groups failed to improve at the expiration of their term and were“Dissolved in accordance with the law”. Reported that the 6 groups were dissolved, including cross-strait exchanges and Mutual Aid Association of Sisters, cross-strait Association for promoting entrepreneurship and so on Sunshine Taiwan. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Lin kuo-shing said the US high tariffs have made life difficult for the Islanders, but the DPP authorities are still“Fighting against the Chinese government and Taiwan”, expelling mainland officials, investigating Li Long’s household registration, and now investigating and disbanding the non-governmental organization, “It’s a full-on manhunt.”. He lambasted Liu Shih-fang, the“Interior Minister”, for creating problems, particularly the freezing of cross-strait relations and the authorities’ inability to co-ordinate and provoke.
But the DPP authorities have not stopped. Taiwan’s United Daily News reported that William Lai Hui-chu, a member of Parliament from the Kuomintang (KMT) , had revealed that normal cross-strait exchanges had been discredited and innocent investigations carried out after he labelled the other side a“Hostile foreign force”. From March 25th to 29th, the Civil Affairs Committee of the Taipei City Council parliament submitted the itinerary and list to Taiwan’s“Immigration Department” before the visit to Shanghai and approved it, however, on March 28, the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Taipei Municipal Government received a phone call from the“Investigation bureau”, and many members of the delegation were interviewed for no reason. Chiang Wan-an, the mayor, said there had been no instances in the past of“Bureau of Investigation” staff coming directly to the city government to inquire about the visits, which had been duly announced. “I am afraid it will have a chilling effect on the outside world and cause panic,” he said.
Academic exchanges are being“Labeled”
Public opinion on the island sighs that everyone is afraid of being“Labeled,” and the relevant actions of the DPP authorities will not only help cross-strait relations, but will also increase hostility. More exchanges are likely to be halted next. Wei Yuguo, chairman of the cross-strait Public Affairs Association, said that there is now a“Chilling effect” and members are worried about being asked to“Drink coffee.” So for cross-strait affairs, the Association announced that its activities would be“Suspended indefinitely.” In Taiwan, it only held an annual general meeting to maintain the basic existence of the association. Other large and small activities were suspended. A person who has been engaged in cross-strait exchanges for a long time said frankly that now, as long as the groups and schools with public sector-related backgrounds do not dare to participate in exchanges, mainlanders who want to go to Taiwan are basically strictly vetted and will not pass; Originally relatively normal business exchanges, will now require more than ever additional information, “But did not expect, now even the most non-political non-governmental exchanges, have become a chilling effect.”. KMT“Legislator” weng xiaoling said that the“Lai 17 articles” have seriously affected cross-strait exchanges. Recently, a National Tsing Hua University professor who led a delegation to mainland China for academic exchanges was even“Branded”, “Cross-strait academic discussions, academic exchanges, teacher-student exchanges have decreased a lot, and there should be more shutdowns to come.”.
William Lai’s popularity continues to decline
On the island, too, William Lai has faced fierce criticism. Chiang Wan-an William Lai, the mayor of Taipei, said Tuesday that the legislature should bring the cabinet case on its own initiative, “To motion of no confidence Lai with a legislative re-election.”. Eric Chu, chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) , said yesterday that any approach conducive to Taiwanese democracy would not be ruled out and would be discussed with other opposition parties. On the 20th, Chiang Wan-an again stressed that“Nothing can be accomplished without a nest” and that“Overthrowing the cabinet is the starting point for counter-attacking the DPP”. Eric Chu also reiterated that“Overthrowing the cabinet” has always been an option, and the KMT has never ruled it out, “But the target is William Lai, not his scarecrow Premier Chuo Rung-tai.”.
An online poll of 18,000 people on the theme of“Overthrowing the cabinet” showed that as many as 79.8 percent were in favor of doing so, Taiwan’s China Times Electronic News said. Eric Chu has invited Huang Kuo-chang, chairman of the Democratic Party, to a summit of opposition leaders scheduled for the 22nd, Taiwanese media reported Wednesday. The topics include tariff trade wars, exchange rates, U. S. debt, “Congress” and judicial reform. People in the white camp said that the main reason for the meeting in opposition was that after William Lai took office, intensifying the island’s opposition, creating hatred among the people, “Legislative Yuan” fierce conflict, the judiciary has become a tool for the DPP to liquidate political opponents. In addition, the KMT also urged the public to 26 Kaidao (William Lai’s office in front of the Ketagalan Boulevard) . KMT figures say the most important thing is to rally supporters to the point where William Lai Limps ahead of the recall vote, whether through a“Cabinet collapse” or a march on kaidao.
William Lai’s popularity has continued to fall to 45.9 percent, the second-lowest since he took office last year, while disapproval of his leadership has surged to 45.7 percent, according to a recent poll by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation, set a new record for his tenure. According to you ying-long, chairman of the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation, the main short-term reasons for Lai’s sharp fall in popularity are the backlash from the ouster and the tariff shock from President Donald Trump.
And in the grim situation, there are still people on the island to the mainland exchanges. Zhong Dongjin, mayor of Miaoli County, led the mayors of villages and towns in the county to visit Sichuan province for 8 days on the 11th. His main itinerary included meeting Taiwanese businessmen, visiting Qingchuang Park and Dujiangyan Irrigation System hydraulic engineering. He also became the“Lai 17” after the first landing of the island’s County Mayor. With the tariff war raging, calls for cross-strait co-operation are loud on the island. Song Tao, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the two sides should continue to expand exchanges and cooperation at the“Cross-strait grass-roots People’s Livelihood Development Exchange Conference” held in Hangzhou on the 20th, promoting the development of people’s livelihood.
According to an editorial in the China Times Electronic News, Taiwanese society is deeply suspicious of Lai 17, with not only blue-camp academics opposed, but also pro-green-camp academics opposed to antagonizing the mainland. An editorial in the newspaper said the door to peace had not been closed because of the“Lai 17”. What people with insight can do is to promote orderly, transparent and healthy cross-strait exchanges in accordance with the law and regulations, and to show another attitude and voice of Taiwan Society in a clear and bright way, stabilize the rapidly falling peace on both sides of the strait. The article said that to push cross-strait relations forward once again, only by holding on to exchanges can we not break the bottom line, it sends a signal to the mainland and the international community that many people in Taiwan cherish the fruits of cross-strait interaction, insist on reconciliation, and refuse to go to war.