Political commentator vows not to be silenced after Taichung attack

Taipei, July 7 (CNA) Taiwan-based political commentator Akio Yaita said Tuesday he would not be intimidated after being assaulted by a man from Hong Kong in Taichung the previous day, calling on authorities to investigate whether the assault involved "political suppression."

"Facing any form of violence or intimidation, I will not retreat or yield," Yaita, CEO of the Indo-Pacific Strategic Thinktank, wrote on Facebook early Tuesday after the attack at a Taichung hotel around noon Monday.

"I will continue, with reason and determination, to speak up for Taiwan's freedom and democracy, and to promote Taiwan-Japan friendship as I always have," he added.

During the attack, Yaita was punched in the face by a man dressed in black in the hotel lobby after speaking at an event, leaving him with a cut lip and loose front teeth.

Police later identified a 33-year-old suspect from Hong Kong surnamed Liu (廖) after reviewing surveillance footage and arrested him at Taichung International Airport at around 4 p.m. as he was allegedly attempting to board a flight to Busan, South Korea.

Possible China link?

Yaita said the incident should not be treated merely as a simple assault, as its background and method bore "many similarities" to attacks on Hong Kongers in Taiwan several years ago.

His remarks appeared to refer to two paint attacks in November 2025 and February 2026 targeting a Taipei Muay Thai studio run by Hong Kong activist Tong Wai-hung (湯偉雄).

In both cases, Hong Kong suspects allegedly vandalized the studio before leaving Taiwan shortly afterward.

• MAC suggests China may be involved in attack on Japanese commentator

"Whether the attack was linked to the recently implemented Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law is also something authorities should investigate and clarify in depth," Yaita said.

His reference to the new Chinese law, which took effect on July 1, echoed concerns raised by Taiwanese authorities, who have described the case as the first instance of transnational repression linked to the law.

However, it remains unclear whether the attack is linked to the law, directed primarily at "forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation," given that Yaita is ethnically Japanese, though he has frequently made comments critical of China in recent years as a political commentator.

Taiwanese authorities should also look into "whether it involved political suppression of freedom of speech in Taiwan, and whether there was organized planning and execution," Yaita added.

Arrest details

Meanwhile, Taichung police on Tuesday released more details about Liu's arrest, saying he entered Taiwan through Taichung International Airport and stayed at several hotels before checking in near where the attack occurred.

Police said Liu appeared to have observed routes around the hotel before the attack.

After the attack, police reviewed surveillance footage and identified Liu partly by a tattoo on his right hand.

Witnesses said the suspect spoke with a mainland Chinese accent, leading police to suspect he may have come from outside Taiwan and to coordinate with immigration and aviation police to prevent him from leaving the country.

Liu later bought a ticket for a 4 p.m. flight to Busan, and was arrested at the airport waiting area 15 minutes before boarding, police said.

According to police, their preliminary investigation found no accomplice had traveled to Taiwan with Liu, who claimed he had not been instructed by Chinese authorities, though the authorities are still investigating whether he had accomplices in Taiwan.

Police said Liu was questioned at a police station Tuesday morning without a lawyer present, and is expected to be transferred to the Taichung District Prosecutors Office later in the day.