Date: April 10, 2017
MAC Press Release No. 24
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated in regards to the inability of Ms. Li Ching-yu to smoothly board a flight to mainland China today (April 10, 2017) at Taoyuan Airport that any government authority must comply with the protections of due process when limiting personal freedom, as well as allow family members the due right of humanitarian visits. This is a basic human rights protection. Mr. Li Ming-che has been missing for more than 22 days since entering the Mainland on March 19. The Mainland side has not yet formally made any public notification of the involved charges and place of detention. Moreover, it canceled valid documentation issued by the Mainland to Ms. Li, preventing the latter from boarding a flight to the Mainland for a humanitarian visit. The government solemnly protests this.
The MAC stressed that, since the March 19 incident, it has contacted the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) numerous times and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) has repeatedly liaised with the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) by mail and phone. Additionally, the Ministry of Justice and Criminal Investigation Bureau have contacted the Mainland through channels under the Agreement on Joint Cross-Strait Crime-Fighting and Mutual Judicial Assistance to urge the prompt public disclosure of the place where Mr. Li is detained, the applicable laws, and the period of restriction of his personal freedom. They also called on the Mainland to inform Taiwan of related matters and to arrange for family visits as soon as possible. However, the Mainland has not yet faced up to the Taiwan side's demands. Such actions are not conducive to conveying the truth and resolving the concerns of various parties. They also have a negative impact on cross-Strait relations. The government calls on the Mainland to promptly contact and notify Taiwan and handle this matter through the existing cross-Strait channels.
The MAC indicated that the government will continue to endeavor with members of Mr. Li's family and domestic and international organizations concerned about this case to urge the Mainland to promptly make public the truth, promptly announce the place of detention, promptly agree to family visits, and arrange for Mr. Li Ming-che's safe release at the earliest possible date.