Taiwan Court Upholds 8-Year Sentence for Chinese Woman in Nat'l Security Case
Taiwan’s Supreme Court has upheld an eight-year prison sentence for Zhou Manzhi, a Chinese woman accused of setting up pro-China groups in Taiwan. Zhou arrived in Taiwan in 2003 after marrying a Taiwanese citizen and later established organizations aimed at recruiting and influencing Chinese residents in Taiwan, prosecutors said. The court found she had received funding from united front-linked groups. Zhou was previously acquitted, but a higher court later overturned that decision and issued the prison term. The Supreme Court rejected her appeal, saying hostile forces should not be allowed to undermine democracy under the protection of free speech.
Chinese Woman Sentenced to Eight Years in Taiwan
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Supreme Court Rejects Appeal Citing National Security
REPORTER:
The Supreme Court has upheld a prison sentence for a Chinese woman who set up pro-China groups in Taiwan.
Prosecutors found Zhou Man-zhi guilty of accepting money from United Front-linked groups to develop pro-China organizations in Taiwan. She established two immigrant associations, which she used to recruit and influence other Chinese spouses. Zhou had previously been acquitted, but her case was ruled on again after a higher court found flaws with the first judgment. She can still appeal her sentence.
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Community Leader Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison
REPORTER:
A Chinese woman living in Taiwan has been sentenced to eight years in prison for violating the National Security Act.
Prosecutors found Zhou Man-zhi guilty of accepting money from United Front-linked groups to develop pro-China organizations in Taiwan. She established two immigrant associations, which she used to recruit and influence other Chinese spouses. Zhou had previously been acquitted, but her case was ruled on again after a higher court found flaws with the first judgment. She can still appeal her sentence.
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Supreme Court Rejects Appeal Over National Security Concerns
REPORTER:
The Supreme Court has upheld a prison sentence for a Chinese woman who set up pro-China groups in Taiwan.
Zhou Man-zhi arrived in Taiwan in 2003 and got residency through marriage to a Taiwanese citizen. She later took money from United Front-linked groups and set up two organizations that aimed to recruit and influence other Chinese spouses of Taiwanese citizens. She was earlier acquitted, but a higher court found flaws with the first judgement and sentenced her to eight years in prison. In rejecting her appeal, the Supreme Court said it is dangerous to allow hostile forces to attack the foundations of democracy under the protection of free expression.
