Government keeps mum after alleged missile test
　

SECRETIVE: Newspapers from both sides of the political spectrum reported that a Taiwanese-developed missile capable of hitting Shanghai was test fired on Tuesday
　

By J. Michael Cole
STAFF REPORTER, WITH AFP , TAIPEI
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009, Page 1

Taiwan has carried out a major missile exercise less than a fortnight after China showed off advanced ballistic weaponry in a massive National Day parade in Beijing, local Chinese-language newspapers reported yesterday. The Presidential Office, however, declined to confirm or deny the reports.

Missiles capable of striking major Chinese cities were launched on Tuesday from the tightly guarded Jioupeng (九鵬) base in Pingtung County, both the pro-opposition Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) and the pro-government United Daily News reported.

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who has been accused of being too friendly with China, was among the observers of the exercise, the papers said, citing a “reliable military source.”

Both Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) and the Ministry of National Defense yesterday declined to comment on the reports.

The Apply Daily yesterday quoted anonymous military sources as saying that Ma was “very satisfied” with the missile test.

The missiles tested included the Hsiung-Feng 2E (HF-2E), which has a range of around 600km and has not yet officially entered the military’s inventory, the media reports said.

The missile is intended for launch from both land and sea and would be capable of striking airports and missile bases in southeast China, as well as cities such as Shanghai and Hong Kong, military experts say.

In the annual presidential address on Double Ten National Day, Ma said Taiwan would “never ignore the other side’s military threat despite significant improvements in cross-strait ties.”

China celebrated 60 years of Communist rule on Oct. 1 by parading high-tech weapons, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, through the streets of Beijing.

Asked for comment yesterday, Wendell Minnick of the Defense News global weekly said: “I am skeptical there was a test of the HF-2E cruise missile. For one, we are only a couple weeks away from the first economic cooperation framework agreement [ECFA] meeting with China and I do not believe Ma would do anything to upset that meeting.”

“Second, [Taiwan’s] budget for Hsiung-Feng 2E was cut last year,” Minnick said. “Third, if there was a missile test, it was for the ­Hsiung-Feng 3 anti-ship missile or the Tien Kung 3 air defense missile, but that is a big maybe.”

Developed under extreme secrecy at the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology in Taiwan, the Hsiung-Feng 2E missile ­program has run into difficulties over the years. Defense News reported in October 2007 that the US State Department had been pressuring Taipei to cancel the program because of its offensive nature.

The US defense establishment is also reported to have refused to provide Taiwan with terrain-­mapping data necessary for the missile’s guidance system, although sources say such systems could have been obtained from a third party.

While the Taiwanese government has pledged to only develop and acquire defensive weapons, pressure mounted under former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) administration to develop a deterrent capability.
　

KMT submits legal complaint over US ‘agent’ Chen
　

By Flora Wang
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009, Page 1
　

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday lodged a complaint against former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) at the Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office, claiming the former president’s petition last month asking the US to view him as “an agent in Taiwan for the US military government” constituted treason, among other crimes.

The KMT caucus was referring to Chen’s temporary endorsement of a lawsuit activist Roger Lin (林志昇) filed in a Washington district court to rule on the nationality of the people of Taiwan. Lin wanted the court to decide what rights Taiwanese have under the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the US Constitution.

Calling Chen a “bastard son [龜兒子] of Uncle Sam,” KMT Legislator Lu Hsueh-chang (呂學樟) said the former president should have defended the sovereignty of the Republic of China instead of “showing his loyalty to the US government.”

Lu urged prosecutors to investigate the KMT’s claim that Chen committed an “offense against the external security of the state (外患罪)” as soon as possible.

Prior to lodging the complaint with prosecutors, Lu held a press conference at the legislature, where he accused Chen of violating the Constitution.

Lu added that the KMT caucus would take steps to demand that Chen return the salary he received during his eight years as president.

The KMT lawmaker said he would also propose amending the Act Governing Preferential Treatment for Retired Presidents and Vice Presidents (卸任總統副總統禮遇條例) during the current legislative session to revoke the rights and benefits to which Chen is currently entitled as a former president.

In the petition Lin filed with the Washington district court in 2006, he argued that the San Francisco Peace Treaty did not address sovereignty over Taiwan and Penghu, and that the US was therefore still the territory’s principal occupying power. The court dismissed the case, saying it lacked jurisdiction over political matters.

When the US Court of Appeals in Washington upheld the district court’s ruling in April, Lin appealed to the US Supreme Court, which declined to hear Lin’s case earlier this month.

In Lin’s appeal to the US Supreme Court on July 8, Chen signed an affidavit in support of the lawsuit, saying that he would like to clarify in court the relationship between “the people of Taiwan (not the ‘exiled Chinese’ on Taiwan) and the United States.”

In the affidavit, written in English, Chen said that the US has been the “principal occupying power” of Taiwan and that Washington has considered him the head of the “Taiwan governing authorities.”

“Based on this rationale, during my term of office, I accepted the instructions of the Chairmen of the American Institute in Taiwan on many occasions, even when their instructions interfered with my Presidential decision making,” he said in the statement.

Chen’s office issued a statement on Tuesday expressing Chen’s regret over the connection between the former president and Lin’s lawsuit, adding that he only endorsed it to help clear up the US’ position on Taiwan’s status and its Taiwan policy.

Parties should pay for corruption: Wu
　

TOUCHE: The premier backed a DPP suggestion that parties pay for by-elections if their members buy votes, but said parties should also pay for embezzled funds
　

By Loa Iok-sin and Shih Hsiu-chuan
STAFF REPORTERS
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009, Page 3
　

Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) yesterday expressed support for a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) proposal that political parties cover the cost of any by-elections resulting from a member losing his or her elected position on a vote-buying conviction — but said his support was on the condition that parties also be held financially responsible for public funds embezzled by their members.

“While vote-buying is shameful, corruption is just as detestable,” Wu said.

Since the seventh legislature was sworn in last year, seven legislators have left their posts for various reasons. Three by-elections have been held to fill the vacancies and another two will be held soon.

Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator Diane Lee (李慶安) resigned in January after she was found to have held US citizenship during her 14 years as Taipei City Councilor and legislator. KMT legislators Lee E-tin (李乙廷), Chang Shuo-wen (張碩文) and Chiang Lien-fu (江連福) lost their seats after being found guilty on vote-buying charges.

Another KMT legislator, Liao Cheng-ching (廖正井), and People First Party Legislator Lin Cheng-er (林正二) have been accused of vote-buying, but their cases are ongoing.

Wu yesterday backed DPP Legislator Tsai Huang-liang’s (蔡煌瑯) proposal to revise the regulations concerning by-elections, but said political parties should, then, also be held responsible for the funds embezzled by corrupt members of their parties.

“Political parties are also responsible for presidents, county commissioners and city mayors nominated by the parties who are found guilty of corruption,” Wu said in an apparent reference to former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), whose trial has proceeded to the High Court.

Citizen Congress Watch executive director Ho Tsung-hsun (何宗勳) yesterday welcomed Wu’s support for Tsai’s proposal and urged Wu to work toward making it law.

Earlier yesterday, Ho and other civic groups staged a demonstration outside the Legislative Yuan, calling on former legislators who have lost their seats because of vote-buying to return their salaries and vote subsidies and cover the cost of by-elections.

Legislators are entitled to a NT$30 subsidy per vote they received over a set threshold.

“It doesn’t make sense that the public has to pay lawmakers who are elected through vote-buying and pay for their wrongs,” Ho said. “They should give the money back and pay for the by-elections.”

“It’s only been a year and nine months [since the legislature was sworn in], and seven of them have left their seats,” Ho said.

One of the seats was left vacant when Wu was appointed to the premiership last month. The by-election for that seat will be held in December.

Former KMT legislators Lee Jih-chu (李紀珠) and Lee Chia-chin (李嘉進) also left the legislature for other posts, but no by-elections were necessary for their seats as they were legislators at large.

“So far, more than NT$50 million [US$1.5 million] in taxpayers’ money has been spent on by-elections, and there are more ... to come.”

Wu Li-huei (吳麗惠) of the Union of Taiwan Teachers said public figures like lawmakers set an example for the next generation.

“With so many legislators acting unlawfully, I don’t know how to teach my kids or my students,” Wu Li-huei said.

Public must turn its back on the ROC, Chen says
　

By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009, Page 3

“Recognizing the constitutional system of the ROC amounts to acknowledging that Taiwan is part of China.”— statement from the office of former president Chen Shui-bian

The office of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday said that one option to build an independent republic was to reject the Republic of China (ROC).

In a statement, the office said that based on his experience as president, Chen thought it was dangerous to use the “shell” of the ROC because it would not help Taiwan become a “new and independent” republic.

The office said Chen’s endorsement of the lawsuit brought by Taiwanese activist Roger Lin (林志昇) in the US was intended to reflect his “new thinking” that the public must oppose and renounce the constitutional system of the ROC.

Chen’s office said a day earlier that Chen regretted endorsing the lawsuit.

“Recognizing the constitutional system of the ROC amounts to acknowledging that Taiwan is part of China and both sides must ultimately be united,” the statement said. “Only by utterly denying the ROC and [the idea] that it has sovereignty over Taiwan can a different, workable method be found to build an independent state,” the statement said.

Expressing regret over the link between his own legal troubles and Lin’s lawsuit, the office said it had taken the focus off the underlying and harmed the former president.

Chen reiterated his opposition to Lin using his name to seek donations, saying that Lin’s aggressive efforts had upset various groups.

Lin petitioned a Washington district court in October 2006 to rule on the nationality of the people of Taiwan. He wanted the US court to decide what rights Taiwanese have under the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the US Constitution, including whether they should be issued US passports.

Last month, Chen signed an affidavit in support of the lawsuit.

The US Supreme Court declined to hear Lin’s case earlier this month.

Chen’s office yesterday said Chen’s support for Lin’s case was an attempt to counter China’s legal warfare against Taiwan and that Chen hoped to clarify six questions from the angle of international law.

They were: whether the ROC has gained sovereignty over Taiwan since World War II ended; what status and efficacy the Cairo Declaration, San Francisco Treaty and Taipei Treaty have in international law; whether Japan transferred Taiwan’s sovereignty to the ROC; whether the Allied countries recognize the ROC as having sovereignty over Taiwan; whether the US and the international community consider the People’s Republic of China as having inherited the ROC’s claim of sovereignty over Taiwan when the communists defeated the Nationalists; and what the US’ policy on Taiwan’s status is.

The answers to the six questions would have consequences for key questions, the office said.

These were:

• If the DPP wins the presidency again, would it amount to the establishment of a new republic?

• If building a new republic is the goal of the DPP, shouldn’t the party have strategies to achieve that goal other than through elections?

• If the DPP wants to build a new republic, but wants to run for the presidency of the ROC, how can it resolve the contradiction?

• If the international community — including Washington — does not consider Taiwan a country, is it necessary to declare independence through a referendum or by drafting a new constitution?

Citing a line in the film Forrest Gump, the office said the main character didn’t mind people calling him stupid or disapproving of his behavior.

“Stupid is as stupid does,” the statement said. “He firmly believes he is doing the right thing and time will tell whether he is right.”

Supporters call for mercy for ill Briton on PRC death row

AFP , LONDON
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009, Page 5

A Briton facing the death penalty for drug trafficking in China probably has a serious mental illness and should not be executed, supporters said on Tuesday.

Akmal Shaikh, who is thought to have bipolar disorder, was arrested in 2007 at Urumqui, Xinjiang province, with around 4kg of heroin.

Supporters say he was tricked into carrying it.

He was sentenced to death last year and his case is being reviewed by China’s Supreme Court, which means a final decision on his fate is likely to be imminent.

Executions in China normally follow quickly after a decision.

His case has been taken up by British legal rights group Reprieve, whose director Clive Stafford Smith said Shaikh had not been properly assessed by a medic.

“He’s in very dire straits because he’s about to face the very last appeal,” Stafford Smith said at a press conference in London.

“After that, the Chinese process is that they take a bullet and they fire it in the back of your head,” he said. “We want him at least to be properly evaluated by a doctor.”

The 53-year-old, who lives in London but whose family is originally from Pakistan, has a history of erratic behavior, his brother and Reprieve said.

After moving to Poland in the hope of starting an airline, despite lacking the cash to do so, he met a man called Carlos who told him he could help him become a pop star and sent him to Kyrgyzstan.

He ended up in Tajikistan where he was put up in a five-star hotel, given a bag and told to fly to China, where he was arrested on arrival, Reprieve said.

His brother Akbar Shaikh told the press conference: “I’d like to appeal to the Chinese authorities to show compassion to my brother.”

The Foreign Office in London said it had already made “representations” to the Chinese authorities over shaikh’s case and would continue to do so.

ECFA just a step to annexing Taiwan
　

By Lin Kien-tsu 林健次
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009, Page 8

‘ECFA is but another name for the promise of a common Chinese market and one China.’

After Taiwan and China sign an economic cooperation and framework agreement (ECFA), WTO regulations require that a free-trade agreement (FTA) be signed within 10 years.

In addition to tariff exemptions, an FTA requires the signatories to deregulate their service industries, including the retail, wholesale, food and beverage, tourism, hotel, entertainment, media, bank, insurance, communications, transport, health, education, consulting and brokerage industries. This could give rise to an influx of Chinese service industry manpower in Taiwan.

In short, the signing of an FTA will mean a substantial opening up of Taiwan to the Chinese labor market. In addition to the inflow of Chinese capital, Chinese workers will also flood Taiwan. Taiwan and China will, in practice, move to the “common market stage” of economic integration and form a “one China common market.”

There are four main differences between a common Chinese market and the EU. EU member states recognize each other’s sovereignty, while China sees Taiwan as part of its national territory; EU states have a common defense policy, while China has missiles pointed at Taiwan; key EU member states are of approximate size and no country can monopolize the organization, while China is much bigger than Taiwan and will dominate a common Chinese market; and the EU is made up of democratic states, while China is a dictatorship where the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the government.

After adopting capitalism, the CCP has perpetuated its control of the Chinese government, legislation and judiciary, interferes with markets, leads the distribution of benefits and directs corporations, and then uses corporate control to direct media and public opinion in order to achieve its political goals.

To simplify his rule, the Qin (秦) emperor relocated the rich and powerful to undermine their power base. Today, an ECFA and an FTA will push Taiwanese businesspeople to move to China and usher in Chinese capital to Taiwan. These agreements will also introduce significant change, causing a great outflow of Taiwanese labor and a large-scale invasion of Chinese. Chinese and Chinese interest groups in Taiwan are sure to become a force to be reckoned with, and under the CCP’s direction, they will become the key force — just as they are in Tibet and Xinjiang.

With the power to direct the common Chinese market, it will be easy for China to use its control over businesses to influence the interests of Taiwanese corporations and order around Taiwanese businesspeople, enterprises and media around until they are scared into silence, thus restricting freedom of expression and dissemination of public information. The next step will be to control Taiwan’s elections at all levels and to direct Taiwanese politicians toward emulating China’s Taiwan policy. This is how they will annex Taiwan without wasting the life of a single soldier.

The main point of the ECFA is not capitalism or the best interests of the working class. ECFA is but another name for the promise of a common Chinese market and one China. It is a contract to sell Taiwan.

Lin Kien-tsu is a member of the Taiwan Association of University Professors.