Yaita Antonio attacked; Lin Pei-hsiang's 'no prejudgment' stance sparks criticism

Yaita Antonio, CEO of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Think Tank, was attacked and injured after delivering a speech in Taichung on the 6th. The assailant, identified as 33-year-old Liao Gangfa from Hong Kong, was arrested by police at the scene.

Following the incident, opposition legislator Lin Pei-hsiang urged against pre-judging the situation, suggesting the attacker might have mistaken Yaita for someone else. However, this response has drawn sharp criticism from Canadian York University associate professor Shen Rong-chin, who accused Lin of exhibiting double standards in his approach to cross-strait relations.

Shen Rong-chin pointed out on Facebook that Lin frequently advocates for "not pre-judging" when it comes to issues involving China. For example, when the Cross-Strait Act was passed, Lin criticized the ruling party for "green terror." Similarly, when the National Security Act was being amended, Lin argued the government was neglecting livelihoods to engage in political struggle. Shen contrasted this with Lin's stance on issues like Chinese-made drugs, where he also advised against immediate assumptions.

Shen further highlighted instances where Lin did not apply the "don't pre-judge" principle. This included opposing amendments to the National Security Act, advocating for a reduced residency period for Chinese spouses to obtain Taiwanese citizenship, and proposing to remove inheritance limits for mainland Chinese citizens. The article implies that Lin's calls for "not pre-judging" are selectively applied, particularly when the incident involves an individual critical of China or when legislative actions are perceived as targeting Chinese influence.

Netizens commenting on Shen's post echoed these sentiments, with many questioning Lin's allegiance and accusing him of consistently defending China's actions, including cross-border suppression. The criticism suggests a perception that Lin's political positions are aligned with Beijing's interests, leading to accusations of him being a "CCP agent" and consistently prioritizing China's perspective.