Taiwan Demands Immigration Review After Journalist Attack, Cites Chinese Suppression

Taiwanese political groups are calling for a thorough review of immigration screening processes and the strengthening of anti-infiltration laws following the premeditated attack on journalist Yaita Akio. The incident, involving a 33-year-old man holding a Hong Kong passport, has fueled suspicions of a coordinated cross-border suppression campaign orchestrated by China.

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China's National Unity Promotion Law was implemented at the beginning of the month, suppressing critical voices of the CCP regardless of nationality, and on the streets of Taiwan, media personnel criticizing Chinese authoritarianism are violently attacked. I believe this is not a mere coincidence.

Taiwan's New Power Party, along with other allied groups, held a press conference condemning the attack and urging authorities to investigate the assailant's organizational ties and funding sources. They believe the attack is linked to China's recent implementation of the "National Unity Promotion Law," which they argue aims to silence critical voices regardless of nationality.

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Taiwan is a democratic and free society that allows debate on various positions, but it absolutely does not allow anyone to use violence to silence critical voices. Freedom of speech is the foundation of society.

Speakers at the press conference emphasized Taiwan's commitment to democratic debate but stressed that violence would not be tolerated. They urged Taiwanese citizens not to be intimidated by Beijing's threats and to defend their right to free speech. Concerns were also raised about the ease with which individuals, like the alleged attacker, can enter Taiwan, with calls for stricter controls on entry visas, particularly for those using medical or business purposes as pretexts.

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There have been many similar cases in the past, including Hong Kong's anti-extradition movement activist Tang Wai-hung, the recently deceased Causeway Bay Bookstore founder Lam Wing-kee, and Hong Kong singer Denise Ho, who have all had paint thrown at them in Taiwan, and the methods are exactly the same.

Past incidents involving attacks on Hong Kong activists and figures in Taiwan were cited as evidence of a pattern of organized behavior. The groups are demanding that the government not only bring the perpetrators to justice but also establish a robust system to protect individuals, including scholars and media workers, who face threats from external forces. They stressed the importance of international cooperation in condemning such actions and preventing Taiwan from becoming a testing ground for transnational repression.

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How did the suspect surnamed Liao enter Taiwan? China's visa application process is already a gray industry chain. Many Chinese use medical, commercial, or exhibition purposes as excuses to obtain entry permits and act recklessly in Taiwan.