TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said Thursday that the nation will establish a Cabinet-level platform to counter China’s growing attempts to use legal tools to pressure Taiwanese.
Speaking after the Mainland Affairs Council briefed the Cabinet on the possible impact of Beijing's new ethnic unity law, Cho said China’s laws now attempt to reach beyond its borders. He said they could be used to pressure Taiwanese in China to accept Beijing’s claim over Taiwan.
The premier said the law’s vague political standards could be used to restrict speech, thought, political activity, and personal freedom. He said Taiwan must prepare for the risks created by China’s expanding legal pressure.
Cho said Taiwan will respond through prevention, protection, and countermeasures. He said the new platform will bring together the interior ministry, justice ministry, Mainland Affairs Council, and other agencies.
Cho also asked the foreign ministry to expand cooperation with democratic partners. He said Taiwan should work with like-minded countries to push back against what he called China’s authoritarian behavior, Rti reported.
The premier said Taiwan should stay alert because China used a national security law to tighten control over Hong Kong. He said Beijing may use similar legal tools to pressure Taiwanese people, businesses, groups, and young people involved in cross-strait exchanges.
Cho said China’s pressure on Taiwan is shifting from economic pressure to legal pressure. He said the Mainland Affairs Council and other agencies should warn Taiwanese about the risks and help keep cross-strait exchanges safe and orderly, per UDN.
Cho said Taiwan will continue to defend democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and freedom with its partners. He said China’s final goal is to absorb Taiwan and weaken its democratic system.
