28.02.2006 - Source: BBC News

Tensions rising between Taiwan's president Chen and China's Communist Party over Taiwan's decision to cancel council on reunification with mainland ("China warns Taiwan of 'disaster'") [#45208],  [ID 17167]

Document(s): Open document

11.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Country report of November 2005 ("Country Report - October 2005 (revised November 2005)") [#39234],  [ID 3518]

"6.420 As reported by the BBC on 1 May 2005, “Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has urged the Chinese government to open talks with his administration. The call comes as Taiwanese opposition leader, Lien Chan, continues a visit to China, where he has held historic talks with President Hu Jintao… Mr Lien heads the KMT, who were driven out by the Communists in 1949.” [9m]

6.421 As noted in the same report, “Beijing’s strategy has been to reach out to Taiwan’s opposition politicians, in a bid to isolate Mr Chen and force him to moderate his pro-independence stance, says the BBC’s Louisa Lim in Beijing. But big obstacles still remain to cross-straits ties, our correspondent says. China refuses to talk to Mr Chen until he signs up to their one-China policy – something which would be political anathema for him, she says.” [9m]

6.422 As reported by BBC on 17 July 2005, “Taiwan’s largest opposition party, which favours closer ties with China, has elected Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou as its new leader. He beat legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng to take over as head of the nationalist Kuomintang party (KMT).” [9p]

6.423 According to a report by Asia Times dated 19 August 2004:
“Today, many accept China’s claim to Taiwan – a Chinese province, the CCP claims, since time immemorial – without question. But in the first two decades of the CCP’s existence (1921-42) Taiwan was of only passing interest to both the CCP and the former Republic of China (ROC) government. Taiwan was an area defined both visually and rhetorically as beyond the margins of the Han Chinese world. In documents, speeches, maps and even postage stamps, Taiwan and the Taiwanese were characterized as a region and a regional national minority, not a province. Taiwan was only later declared an integral part of China when it was politically expedient to do so.” [64a]

6.424 As reported by the US State Department Report on Human Rights (Taiwan) 2004 (USSD Report Taiwan 2004), published on 28 February 2005, “The [Taiwanese] authorities generally respected the human rights of citizens; however, there were problems in some areas. Instances of police abuse of persons in custody, official corruption, violence and discrimination against women, child prostitution and abuse, and trafficking in women and children occurred.” [2i] (p1)"

Document(s): Open document

17.08.2004 - Source: BBC News

Taiwan's prime minister has accused China of planning to kill or capture the island's leaders ("'Plot to kill Taiwan's leaders'") [#24794],  [ID 3519]

Document(s): Open document

14.01.2004 - Source: BBC News

BBC: China detains Taiwan "spies" ("China detains Taiwan 'spies'") [#18736],  [ID 3520]

"China has announced the detention of seven alleged spies from Taiwan, and said their cases were being investigated. The seven were arrested in December and stand accused of collecting information for Taiwan's military, China said. [...]
The Ming Pao newspaper in Hong Kong said in December that China made arrests after Taiwan's President, Chen Shui-bian, publicly disclosed the position of Chinese missiles aimed at the island.
Mr Chen denied that spies were needed to establish information which he said was freely available over the internet and could be seen in satellite images.
Analysts have said that China's claims could be part of a bid to make Mr Chen look irresponsible and harm his re-election bid.
[...]"

Document(s): Open document

21.03.2001 - Source: Amnesty International

Legal situation in case of pro-Taiwanese statements ("Verwaltungsstreitverfahren eines chinesischen Staatsangehörigen") [#2472],  [ID 3521]

"[...]
Die Frage des territorialen Status bestimmter Regionen, die de facto zur Volksrepublik China gehören oder von der Führung dieses Landes als Bestandteil Chinas angesehen werden, gelten innenpolitisch als äußerst heikel. So wird Taiwan als integraler Bestandteil der Volksrepublik China angesehen und als "abtrünnige Provinz" bezeichnet. Personen, die im Verdacht stehen, die Unabhängigkeit Taiwans zu fördern, laufen Gefahr, wegen "Vaterlandverrats" und "Gefährdung der staatlichen Sicherheit" strafrechtlich verfolgt zu werden. Handhabe dazu bieten die §§ 102-103 des chinesischen Strafgesetzbuches (chinStGB) [i].
[...]
In den letzten Jahren hat die Armee der Volksrepublik China mehrfach Manöver in der Formosastraße durchgeführt. Diese ca. 200 km breite Wasserstraße trennt die Insel Taiwan und die zur Volksrepublik China gehörende Provinz Fujian. Im Sommer 1999 war es zu einer deutlichen Verschärfung der Beziehungen zwischen der Volksrepublik China sowie Taiwan gekommen, nachdem der damalige taiwanesische Präsident, Lee Teng-hui,[ii] am 9. Juli 1999 vorgeschlagen hatte, dass Taiwan und die Volksrepublik China als zwei souveräne Staaten miteinander verhandeln sollten.[iii] Im Laufe der dadurch ausgelösten Krise hat die Führung der Volksrepublik China mit militärischen Maßnahmen gedroht und ihre Bereitschaft dazu durch militärische Manöver zu demonstrieren versucht.[iv] Unter Berufung auf offizielle chinesische Quellen wurde berichtet, dass u.a. im Juli 1999 eine umfangreiche "Mobilisierungsübung" mit mehr als 100 Schiffen abgehalten wurde, an der offensichtlich auch Zivilisten beteiligt waren.[v]"

Document(s): 0790chi.doc