News Reference Material
Date: March 18, 2022
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated that Taiwanese national Mr. Li Ming-che was arrested in mainland China five years ago on March 19, 2017 and have since been detained. Taiwanese society is concerned about Li Ming-che's health and safety. We call on mainland China to promptly disclose information on Mr. Li's release and allow him to safely return to Taiwan as soon as possible.
The MAC indicated that Li Ming-che entered mainland China following normal procedures. His freedom was restricted, then being sentenced and imprisoned without any notification by mainland China through channels established under cross-Strait agreements. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mainland Chinese side also did not allow Li Ming-che to phone his family and apprise them of his prison situation. Furthermore, Li’s family members have not been informed of the content of the verdict and the specific date of Li Ming-che's release upon completion of his sentence. We deeply regret the inadequate protection of human rights the judicial system in mainland China provides.
The MAC stated that in order to have normal cross-Strait exchanges, people's personal freedom and safety need to be fully protected. If the CCP authorities were to become a significant force in the world, the key is to exhibit rule-of-law and civilized values. Achieving this is not only a protection of Taiwanese people engaged in exchanges in mainland China, but also the greatest hope and expectation of the 1.4 billion mainland Chinese people. As for cases involving other Taiwanese nationals in mainland China, the MAC will do its utmost to closely follow developments of the cases through various channels and provide necessary assistance. The MAC calls on mainland China to fully protect related rights and interests of Taiwanese people and their families. It also reminds Taiwanese people seeking developments in mainland China to vigilantly pay attention to their personal safety and other risks, and be aware of differences between the legal systems of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
The MAC explained that the government prioritizes ensuring the safety and freedom of Taiwanese people. The MAC will continue to make every effort to assist Mr. Li Ming-che and provide his family with necessary support. It will also cooperate with all sides to achieve Mr. Li Ming-che's safe return to Taiwan.