**China Targets Taiwan Lawmaker with Criminal Investigation**
REPORTER:
Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party is blasting China for targeting one of the party’s lawmakers with a criminal investigation.
They begin by using judicial intimidation to instill fear in the individuals or groups they target.
It’s exactly the same tactic they used in Hong Kong.
The condemnation comes after local authorities in China announced a case against DPP lawmaker Puma Shen, who is viewed by China as a separatist who "divides the country."
Chinese state media Xinhua published an article justifying the move, calling it "fully supported by facts and grounded in law."
But the probe has been rejected by Taiwan’s government agency that handles cross-strait matters.
The Chinese Communist Party’s jurisdiction does not extend to Taiwan.
And the people of Taiwan are not bound by any of its laws or regulations.
That said, China’s pressure tactics could get help from collaborators within Taiwan, and the government is watching out for this.
We will also coordinate with the police to stay vigilant domestically and to watch out for any local collaborators.
And there are also concerns that the case could make it dangerous for Shen to travel to countries with close ties to China.
Because China maintains close ties with certain pro-China or China-friendly countries it may have extradition arrangements with some of them.
So I would also advise Legislator Puma Shen to be especially cautious.
China has long warned against what it calls “die-hard Taiwan independence activists,” but this is the first time it has formally opened a criminal case against one of Taiwan’s lawmakers. As Beijing doubles down on its pressure tactics, DPP lawmakers are calling for unity among Taiwan’s political parties against the threat, saying their legislators could be next.
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