President, legislative speaker exchange barbs on China threat to lawmaker

Taipei, Nov. 12 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) should retract his remark that China is "a foreign hostile force" and remove a clause in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) charter that advocates Taiwan independence, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) said Wednesday.

Han was responding to Lai's call for him to speak up in support of DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋), whom the public security bureau in China's Chongqing City recently vowed to investigate for "separatist activities" under China's Anti-Secession Law and other regulations.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired a report Sunday in which a Chinese legal expert suggested authorities pursue Shen through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) or mutual judicial assistance agreements with foreign countries.

However, Beijing has not indicated whether it will take such action. Meanwhile, Interpol maintains a policy against issuing Red Notices for cases involving political, military, religious or racial matters.

On Tuesday, Lai said China has no jurisdiction over Taiwan and Shen had broken no laws, as all he had done was defend Taiwan's national sovereignty and uphold its democratic and constitutional institutions.

He called on Han, a member of the opposition Kuomintang, to uphold the dignity of the Legislature in his capacity as legislative speaker by leading lawmakers across party lines to speak up for Shen.

In response to Lai's remarks, Han said on Wednesday he would certainly fulfill his responsibility to protect all lawmakers' right to free speech and personal safety "within the legislature compound."

Han then countered Lai by saying if the president truly wanted to help Shen, he should retract his designation of China as a "foreign hostile force" during a speech in March, arguing that such language was not conducive to peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Citing a Chinese idiom, Han said only Lai can undo what has been done. He further suggested that Lai, who is also DPP chairman, immediately take steps to revoke or suspend the clause in the party's charter advocating "Taiwan independence" -- the founding of a Republic of Taiwan -- thereby addressing the problem at its source.

Asked to respond to Han's remarks, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said China's pursuit of Shen constitutes a violation of freedom, democratic values, and human rights, and could pose a threat to Shen's personal safety.

Han, as legislative speaker, has a responsibility to protect lawmakers, but has so far remained silent on the issue, Cho said, calling on him to make his position known to the public.

Meanwhile, DPP spokesperson Wu Cheng (吳崢) criticized Han's reluctance to directly address the issue and called Han's remarks tantamount to "rubbing salt into Shen's wounds."