Taiwan downplays founding of local 'revolutionary communist' group

Taipei, Jan. 25 (CNA) Taiwan's government issued a tepid response to the recent founding of a local "revolutionary communist" organization, saying the group had not formally registered as a political party and appeared to be more of an intellectual society or "book club."

The political entity, known as the Revolutionary Communist Party of Taiwan, announced its formation Thursday on social media, days after holding a "founding party congress" Jan. 17-18.

"Nearly 20" supporters from across Taiwan attended the founding event in Taipei, the Revolutionary Communist International (RCI) said in a separate article on its website, In Defense of Marxism.

Asked about the organization at a news conference Thursday, Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑), deputy head and spokesman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Taiwan's top agency for cross-strait affairs, said the group appear to be followers of the ideas of Leon Trotsky.

According to Liang, Trotskyists adhere to "original Marxist ideals and humanism," to be point of being "somewhat naïve," and have been regarded as troublesome by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) throughout its history, subject to purges and arrests.

The group is unlikely to become collaborators with Beijing, however, because without exception, such local collaborators "have been driven by self-interest, not ideology," Liang said.

Liang said that according to the Ministry of the Interior, the group had not formally registered as a political party, and, given its revolutionary goals, was unlikely to do so.

As for the group's legality, Liang suggested taking a wait-and-see approach.

"I think we can view [this organization] as an intellectual society, or even a book club," Liang said. "As long as they don't engage in any illegal behavior, of course they can continue to exist."

Liang noted that according to Constitutional Court Interpretation No. 644, issued in 2008, political parties in Taiwan can advocate for communism.

Realistically, however, taking communism too seriously is also "intolerable" to the CCP, Liang said.