KMT Chairwoman's US meeting with controversial overseas Chinese leader sparks national security concerns

Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Chiu Lien-hsin's recent visit to the United States included a public interaction with Chen Heng, president of the Chinese "Fujian Hometown Association" in New York. This meeting has drawn sharp criticism from Wu Hsin-tai, a candidate for Taiwan's Second Constituency in Taipei, who warned of potential national security breaches.

Wu Hsin-tai stated that Chen Heng has long operated under the direction of China's Ministry of Public Security, engaging in cross-border suppression and political mobilization. The KMT's establishment of contact with such an individual, Wu argued, could lead to sensitive information about Taiwanese vice presidents, presidents, and administrative heads' travel being indirectly funneled to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through legislative review powers. This, Wu fears, would embolden the CCP's surveillance and harassment of democratic forces overseas.

Wu highlighted that Chen Heng is a key figure in the CCP's overseas operations for cross-border suppression and mobilizing overseas Chinese communities to harass political figures. While Chen was not prosecuted in a 2023 case involving the disruption of former President Tsai Ing-wen's visit, US security agencies are closely monitoring him. Wu pointed out that individuals closely associated with Chen, including Lu Jianwang and Chen Jinping, were convicted in May for acting as unregistered foreign agents and obstructing justice, operating an "overseas police service station" in Manhattan's Chinatown to monitor and harass dissidents.

“

The KMT's establishment of contact with such an individual could lead to sensitive information about Taiwanese vice presidents, presidents, and administrative heads' travel being indirectly funneled to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through legislative review powers.

Recalling instances of harassment against Taiwanese political figures during overseas visits between 2023 and 2024, such as former Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim's visit to the Czech Republic and former President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the US, Wu questioned whether figures like Chen Heng were behind these disruptive actions. Wu expressed concern that Chiu Lien-hsin, as the leader of Taiwan's opposition party, openly associating with such a controversial figure, disregards the personal safety of Taiwanese diplomatic staff and officials working abroad.

Furthermore, Wu raised concerns about potential intelligence leaks within Taiwan's legislative system. Information regarding the travel plans and sensitive details of Taiwanese administrative heads, presidents, and vice presidents abroad could potentially be accessed by legislators through official review processes. Wu fears that this information, once seen by KMT legislators, could be passed to the party chair and subsequently establish an intelligence bridge with these overseas agents. This, Wu concluded, would expose Taiwanese political figures to increased harassment and surveillance by CCP personnel abroad whenever they travel to promote democracy, freedom, and expand international space.

“

This would expose Taiwanese political figures to increased harassment and surveillance by CCP personnel abroad whenever they travel to promote democracy, freedom, and expand international space.