NIA limits Chinese tourist activities
　

FOUR NOES: Chinese visitors are forbidden from participating in political activities, attending political talk shows or election campaigns, and they cannot work for pay
　

By Loa Iok-sin
STAFF REPORTER, WITH CNA
Thursday, Dec 03, 2009, Page 1

The National Immigration Agency (NIA) yesterday promulgated a set of rules defining the scope of activities Chinese tourists can participate in, with four activities that are forbidden to them including participating in political rallies.

The NIA said Chinese visitors to Taiwan are prohibited from activity harmful to national security, such as participating in political activities or attending political talk shows and election campaigns. They are also forbidden from working for pay.

The rules were announced as an increasing number of Chinese tourists visit Taiwan — an average of 2,518 a day in the first nine months of this year — after the two sides of the Taiwan Strait signed an agreement to boost tourism last year and after direct flights were expanded in July.

The government has not allowed Chinese visitors to come to Taiwan without joining tour groups, though they are allowed free time aside from their tour itinerary.

MISSING VISITORS

Meanwhile, the NIA rebutted a local media report that said more than 25,000 Chinese nationals who entered Taiwan legally may be staying in the country illegally.

The real figure was less than 4,000, the NIA said in a press release late on Tuesday night in a rebuttal to a story published by the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) that said as many as 26,539 Chinese nationals had not left the country as scheduled and were listed as missing by the NIA.

The report said that, while many of these “missing” people had been found or left the country at a later date, such a large number of Chinese nationals living in the country illegally posed a threat to social stability and national security, as some were suspected of have committing crimes.

“[The number reported] is the total number of Chinese nationals who have been listed as ‘missing’ since the ban on cross-strait exchanges was lifted in 1988,” the NIA statement said.

Between 1988 and the end of October, more than 3.3 million Chinese nationals have entered Taiwan legally.

ADDING UP NUMBERS

“After deducting the number of missing Chinese nationals who have been removed from the list, which is 15,538, and the number of Chinese nationals who were listed as missing but have later been found to have left the country, the total number of missing Chinese nationals in the country stands at 3,901 at this time,” the statement said, adding that the agency was using all available measures to find out where these people are.

The NIA statement did not ­clarify how or why the 15,538 missing Chinese nationals were removed from the list.

Citing an unnamed Coast Guard Administration (CGA) official, the Liberty Times said the “small three links” — a means for Taiwanese and Chinese nationals to travel between outlying islands — has become a less expensive way for “people with intentions” from China to enter Taiwan.

The CGA official told the Liberty Times that in the past it would cost somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 yuan (US$7,000 and US$14,000) per person to be smuggled into Taiwan.

Nowadays, many Chinese nationals who want to be smuggled into Taiwan do so under the guise of tourists, businessmen and spouses and even use forged documents, the official said.

After coming into Taiwan legally, they may work illegally or commit crimes, the report said, adding that it would be equally easy for Chinese nationals who committed crimes in Taiwan to escape via the three small links.

The NIA denied that such cases occur often.

“Among people from the mainland area who have come to Taiwan for tourism purposes via Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu, only nine people left their tour groups [and are missing],” the statement said, adding that the NIA implemented unspecified “special measures” to prevent and monitor such cases.

Ma spokesman dodges motorcade remarks
　

By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Dec 03, 2009, Page 1

Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) yesterday declined to apologize after being accused of making “reckless” remarks in response to a report in the ­Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) on Monday that President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) motorcade abused its traffic privileges while the president was not in the car.

“I don’t understand what they are thinking,” Wang said. “Doesn’t the Liberty Times, which created a composite photograph that deviated from the truth, owe the public an explanation?”

Wang made the remarks in response to a request by the Liberty Times in a news analysis published yesterday that Wang clarify and apologize for “speaking recklessly” about the matter.

The report accused Wang of taking up a minor issue to evade a major issue because the question the paper raised was whether the president’s motorcade had abused its traffic privileges while the president was not in the car.

The Liberty Times ran a composite photograph on Monday as an illustration to accompany a story about Ma, who doubles as chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), as he stumped for KMT candidates ahead of Saturday’s local elections.

The report said Ma’s motorcade was speeding while using loudspeakers to order vehicles to make way.

The composite photo had a caption identifying it as such in the lower, left-hand corner.

Following the Liberty Times report on Monday, Wang apologized for any inconvenience caused by Ma’s motorcade.

The Presidential Office ­confirmed that Ma was not in the car at the time, but was flying from Hsinchu to Chiayi on the presidential plane.

Wang on Tuesday said the photo used did not picture Ma’s convoy, but probably showed former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) motorcade. He said the leading vehicle in Ma’s motorcade is a BMW740 and that Ma rides in a Ford E350, while the lead car in the composite photograph was a Ford and the presidential vehicle a BMW — a formation used during the Chen presidency.

Meanwhile, Chen yesterday accused Wang of “lying” and “leaking sensitive information” on presidential security.

In a statement issued by his office, Chen asked the Presidential Office to instruct the National Security Bureau’s special forces center to clarify the matter.

Chen accused Wang of making remarks that “did not tally with the facts,” saying his motorcade never used vans as the lead vehicle nor used the fast lane to abuse its traffic privileges.

“Is what Wang said the official response of the Presidential Office?” Chen asked. “Who authorized him to reveal details of the security deployment of the president and his vehicle formation?”

Wang yesterday avoided Chen’s questions, saying that the paper that created the composite photograph knew the truth.

Legislators bicker over Saito’s resignation
　

By Jenny W. Hsu and Flora Wang
Staff Reporters
Thursday, Dec 03, 2009, Page 3

“The improvement in Taiwan-Japan relations over the past year is evident. For example, we are going to open a direct air route between Taipei International Airport and Haneda Airport. This is a major breakthrough achieved during [Saito’s] term.”— Wang Jin-pyng, legislative speaker

The unexpected resignation of Japanese representative Saito Masaki dominated the legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee meeting yesterday, with the pan-blues saying the resignation was overdue and the pan-greens lamenting the state of ties with Japan.

Saito was listed as persona non grata by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus soon after comments he made at the annual meeting of the Republic of China International Relations Association in May. Saito said at the time that Taiwan’s status remained “unresolved.”

The envoy later apologized and Tokyo said Saito’s comments were his own views and did not represent the Japanese government.

On Tuesday, Japan’s Interchange Association — Tokyo’s de facto embassy in Taiwan — confirmed that Saito had asked to leave his post for “personal reasons.” The office declined to say when he had tendered his resignation.

News of Saito’s resignation broke the same day that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) opened a new office in Sapporo that had been scheduled to open in October.

Speaking at the committee, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shen Lyu-hsun (沈呂巡) said Saito’s resignation would not affect Taiwan’s strong relationship with Japan, which he said was evident in the number of senior Japanese politicians who attended the opening ceremony in Sapporo.

But DPP Legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) said he suspected the timing of Saito’s resignation demonstrated the Japanese foreign ministry’s desire not to offend the Taiwanese. Japan was using the Sapporo office to show its sincerity toward the Taiwanese, while Saito’s resignation was a warning to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) that Tokyo was concerned about his “China-friendly” policies.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Justin Chou (周守訓) said Saito should have stepped down immediately after making his “erroneous” remarks on Taiwan’s status. He urged MOFA to take a hard stance toward any foreign diplomats who belittle Taiwan.

Another KMT lawmaker, Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀), said the DPP had blown the issue out of proportion. Chang said Tokyo was not trying to send any messages.

At a separate setting, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), who had just returned from presiding over the Sapporo opening, suggested yesterday that he knew who Japan was considering for Saito’s post.

Wang told reporters at the legislature that the candidate was a senior diplomat who did not appear to have previous experience with Taiwan but was otherwise very experienced and competent.

The speaker did not name the diplomat by name.

Wang praised Saito for his contribution to ties during his time in Taipei.

“The improvement in Taiwan-Japan relations over the past year is evident. For example, we are going to open a direct air route between Taipei International Airport and Haneda Airport. This is a major breakthrough achieved during his term,” Wang said.

Wang said the government’s shunning Saito was nothing personal but a move to express Taiwan’s stance in response to Saito’s remarks.

The speaker said he hoped the relations between the two nations would continue to develop “healthily and normally” despite Saito’s resignation.

KMT Legislator Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀) of the Foreign and National Defense Committee, rebutted media speculation that the Presidential Office was kept in the dark until Saito resigned. Chang said Japan’s Interchange Association told him that it, too, knew nothing about Saito’s resignation until the announcement.

Meanwhile, KMT lawmakers said MOFA should be more aggressive in urging Washington to expedite arms sales, especially the sale of Blackhawk helicopters to be used for rescue missions in case in natural disasters like last summer’s Typhoon Morakot.

The deputy minister did not elaborate except to reiterate American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt’s statement that the US has not rejected Taiwan’s requests for arms and that a delay is not a refusal.

Shen’s behavior at the legislature yesterday was far less explosive than two weeks ago, when he reported to the committee for the first time as deputy minister.

Shen was chided at the time by both camps for yelling and pounding on the table when asked about embezzlement allegations against him.

Chen’s memoir not linked to elections, his office says
　

By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Dec 03, 2009, Page 3

The office of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday dismissed speculation that the release of his memoir on the 2004 attempt on his life was timed to win media exposure ahead of Saturday’s elections.

In a statement, the office said Chen’s memoir, entitled Nine Critical Days in History (歷史關鍵的九天), was meant to fight a smear campaign against the former president.

The office said that the memoir was published on the Neo Formosa Weekly Web site on Monday and the office did not receive written consent from Chen to release the memoir until last Friday.

On March 19, 2004, a bullet grazed Chen’s stomach and another hit vice president Annette Lu’s (呂秀蓮) knee as they were campaigning in Tainan. The pan-blue camp said the shooting was staged to win sympathy votes.

The Tainan Prosecutor’s Office closed the case in 2005, saying the shooting was the work of a lone gunman, Chen Yi-hsiung (陳義雄), who was found dead 10 days after the incident.

The office yesterday said the publication of the 12,000-word memoir had to do with groundless remarks by the Control Yuan concerning the election-eve assassination attempt. The government watchdog made public the results of its investigation into the case on Nov. 11.

The Control Yuan report said there were several flaws in the investigation into the shooting, and the questions it raised prompted the media to play up the report as if it meant the shooting incident was staged, the Presidential Office said.

The office said it suspected State Prosecutor-General Chen Tsung-ming (陳聰明) of violating investigative secrecy by revealing on Oct. 14 that prosecutors had uncovered “new problems that changed the situation.”

Although the former president is in custody, he will continue to protest his innocence, the office said: “Truth cannot be conquered and lies will not prevail.”

Is China as stable as it says it is?
　

By Sushil Seth
Thursday, Dec 03, 2009, Page 8

One noticeable aspect about China these days is the cockiness and arrogance of its rulers, which manifests itself both at home and abroad. This has come with a new sense of entitlement about China’s central place in global affairs.

US President Barack Obama’s visit to China last month, where he spent more time than in any other country during his tour of the region, helped confirm Beijing’s conviction about its “manifest destiny” as the new Middle Kingdom.

In China’s relationship with the outside world, this arrogance is reflected at several levels.

At one level, a deeply rooted sense of historical humiliation at the hand of Europeans and Japanese has created an exaggerated sense of nationalism. As a result, Beijing requires constant confirmation of its great power status and has a tendency to assert its sovereignty and “territorial integrity.”

This is often used in reference to Taiwan, where China uses coercive diplomacy on other countries to assert its position.

Beijing also uses coercive diplomacy to prevent other countries from having any kinds of dealings with the Tibetan leader-in-exile the Dalai Lama and Rebiya Kadeer, the leader of the Uighur community, also in exile.

In the cases of Tibet and Xinjiang, even though these regions are already part of China and are recognized as such by the international community (with some exceptions), Beijing remains paranoid.

The revived tensions along the Indo-Chinese border were in large part related to New Delhi’s refusal to bow to pressure from Beijing not to allow the Dalai Lama to visit Tawang, a town on the border that houses a major Tibetan Buddhist monastery.

In the same way, relations between China and Australia recently reached a crisis point when Canberra granted a visa to Kadeer to attend the premiere of a documentary about her life at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

This is evidence that China’s perception of itself as a great power involves a dangerous mix of national pride and paranoia, as highlighted by a series of naval incidents in the South China Sea involving Chinese ships and US Navy vessels.

Vice Admiral John Bird, commander of the Seventh Fleet, recently told the Sydney Morning Herald that the jostling of a US ship in March by Chinese vessels had been followed by other lesser incidents.

He said: “I would like to believe China learnt from that, but to be truthful, at any time they could do that again.”

“They have made it clear they consider the South China Sea to be more or less theirs,” he said.

It is not difficult to imagine that such brinkmanship could get out of hand.

At home, the authorities are encouraging the view that the people should be grateful to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for achieving economic growth and bringing glory to the nation.

As such, whenever there is resistance to and criticism of the CCP’s policies and authoritarian ways, the leadership reacts with intolerance and repression.

When Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) became president, there was an expectation that the political scene would be somewhat liberalized — at least within the CPC. But those hopes have since been dashed.

Many human rights activists and lawyers supporting their cause “are either in jail or have had their licenses removed,” said Mo Shaoping (莫少平), one of the activist lawyers.

Fan Yafeng (范亞峰), another rights activist, has been sacked from the Academy of Social Sciences.

“The Government has given up all political reforms. Their only aim is to protect their own interests,” Fan says.

In his view, China is closer to its “crisis point” than many people believe.

The government is targeting any group that has the potential of emerging as an organized opposition to its rule.

A case in point is the crackdown on informal church groups — also known as “house churches” — that operate outside official control.

With China’s Christian population estimated at about 130 million people, the government keeps a tight control on Church organizations.

Those “house churches,” however, have resisted government control, which has resulted in persecution, evictions and detention of some leaders. Given their capacity to mobilize support inside and outside the country, it is no surprise that the government sees them as a threat.

The explosion of “black jails” to detain people petitioning the central authorities against rampant injustice at the local level is another example of increasing repression.

In a recent report, Human Rights Watch wrote: “Provincial and municipal level officials have developed an extrajudicial system to intercept, abduct, and detain petitioners in black jails.”

“Their emergence since 2003 constitutes one of the most serious and widespread uses of extra-legal detention in China’s recent history,” it said.

It is difficult to believe that the central leadership is not aware of such illegal activities. Indeed, these jails have the hallmarks of dirty work being outsourced by government agencies.

The government is so obsessed with managing the country’s image that it refuses to see how bad things are.

Wherever one looks, the situation has the makings of a serious social crisis. For instance, the abduction of children doesn’t seem to grab the attention of the authorities to the same extent it would in a civilized society.

Unemployment is rising, with 20 million losing their jobs following the closure of many factories making goods for export. This puts additional strain on an already depressed rural economy, as most of these unemployed were rural migrants working in the urban industrial economy.

China’s economic stimulus package might show healthy economic growth with inflated stock market indicators and property valuation, but they are not doing much, if anything, to stimulate employment.

The social services sectors like health, education and welfare are starved of funds.

The stimulus package was nothing more than a stopgap measure awaiting the revival of the export sector — which might not happen, at least not for some years, because the US continues to have serious debt problems.

Commenting on the wastefulness of some of the stimulus spending, Zhang Xin, an investment executive, said: “In Pudong [Shanghai’s business district], vacancy rates are as high as 50 percent and they are still building new skyscrapers.”

Such wasteful spending on construction projects is contributing to corruption, which is already a national disease.

Even the much hyped talk of a significant decline in poverty in China has to be approached with caution, when 800 million farmers are not part of the urban industrial economy.

Irene Khan of Amnesty International said that China’s alleged success in alleviating poverty is overblown.

At the same time, China’s industrial and business sector are controlled by party apparatchik in cahoots with their favored industrial and business barons.

Therefore, the image of a prosperous China requires some serious questioning. The country is a robber-baron economy working for the powerful and operating in a moral vacuum.

As Xu Zhiyong (許志永), an activist, has said: “If China reaches a crisis point … it will be because of the accumulated rage from social injustices.”

This rage is frequently expressed through demonstrations in different parts of the country, though it has yet to turn into an orchestrated, nationwide movement, mostly because of extensive government surveillance and exemplary punishments for those who stand out of line.

Most people have a sense of where that line is. For instance, any advocacy of democracy, and questioning of the CCP’s monopoly on power, can be regarded as treason because the party and the nation are one and the same.

This is where the real danger lies, as built-up social rage can easily be channeled into national hysteria over some perceived slight and/or humiliation of China’s national pride and cause an international incident.

There is danger for the CCP as well, because the same organized hysteria is also capable of being turned against the party if it fails to ensure China’s imagined place in the world.

In the next decade or so, the Chinese leadership will have to maintain social stability by turning people’s rage into chauvinist pride.

This will be a delicate operation, with unpredictable results for China and the world.

Sushil Seth is a writer based in Australia.