Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) criticized China’s trial of Li Yanhe (李延賀) on Tuesday.
Li Yanhe (李延賀), also known by his pen name Fu Cha (富查), is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Gusa Press. He was arrested and detained by China’s national security officials in Shanghai in 2023. On Monday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) announced that Li had been tried for inciting secession and a public verdict was issued on February 17. However, further details have not been disclosed.
The minister criticized the lack of transparency regarding Li’s trial. Chiu says the lack of access to court arguments and relevant evidence shows that the assurance of legal rights under China’s judicial system is nothing but a lie.
Chiu warned Taiwanese citizens of the risks associated with traveling to China. He recommends individuals to carefully assess the necessity of their trips, given the potential security concerns. He encourages Taiwanese nationals to register with the MAC’s online system before traveling, which would allow the government to offer necessary assistance if needed.
A support group dedicated to advocating for Li’s release issued a statement on Monday, expressing their shock and disappointment over the trial. They highlighted that the case has cast a significant shadow on cross-strait cultural exchange and called on Beijing to publicize the case’s details to ensure Li’s legal rights were upheld.