In response to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) likely exploitation of the Straits Forum, to be held in mid-June this year, to intensify its united front campaign to divide Taiwan, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) issued the following statement today (May 30, 2019).
Since Beijing announced the "Xi’s five-point," it has launched a new wave of campaign to achieve the CCP's objectives set under its policy towards Taiwan. In addition, to respond to the complex and severe internal and external situations it faces, it is most likely that Beijing will use the Straits Forum to drum up support among all sectors of Taiwan society for Xi’s plan to engage in "democratic consultations" and explore the "one country, two systems model for Taiwan." It will also use the forum to announce the illusory results of the Taiwan-related measures to impact Taiwan's society.
Considering that the Straits Forum has long served as a platform for CCP’s united front work, and had recently extended invitations to all walks of life, political parties, and the grassroots in Taiwan, the MAC said the government will therefore strengthen established policy and management measures to safeguard national sovereignty, defend democracy, and prevent the CCP's abominable manipulation.
The government's position is further explained below:
1. Central government personnel are prohibited from attending the Straits Forum while county and city government delegations are discouraged from participating. The government supports normal cross-Strait exchanges. However, it opposes the CCP's political manipulation and hopes that various sectors in Taiwan not to participate in the CCP’s united front activities. Therefore, customarily, the government prohibits serving personnel of central government agencies as well as their affiliated organizations and groups from participating in related activities. The government also discourages the participation of county and city government delegations in such activities. If retired or discharged personnel and local officials, who are regulated and required to apply for permission before entering the Mainland, choose to participate in the forum, the competent authorities will rigorously review applications for such visit and deny permission in cases involving participation in forum activities related to "democratic consultations" or promoting the elimination of the Republic of China (ROC) under the "one country, two systems."
2. The government reminds the public to think twice before participating to avoid breaking the law. The government advices the Taiwanese people and interested parties to think twice before participate in related activities at the Straits Forum. It reminds the public that it is illegal to sign agreements, memorandums, and other such documents with the CCP without the authorization of the government. Collaboration and the forming of alliances without permission from the competent authorities are also illegal.
3. Government prohibits participation in "democratic consultations" and forum activities which promote the "one country, two systems" that leads to the elimination of the ROC. The government prohibits individuals or groups from participating in forum activities related to the "one country, two systems model for Taiwan" or "democratic consultations", which entail the elimination of the ROC and cater to the CCP’s united front objectives. Civil associations (referring to Article 58 of the Civil Associations Act) or political parties (referring to Article 26 of the Political Parties Act, allowing the competent authority to make a formal request to the Constitutional Court for a decision on dissolution) may be disbanded for serious violations of prohibitions against engaging in activities detrimental to national security or interests prohibited under Article 9 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.
4. The CCP is prohibited from conducting activities related to the Straits Forum in Taiwan. The CCP has attempted in the past to hold subordinate or extended activities before and after the Straits Forum to opportunistically expand its united front campaign in Taiwan. The government will strictly examine the entry applications of Mainland personnel and prohibit the holding of such activities in Taiwan.
The CCP has recently introduced the "one country, two systems model for Taiwan" in cross-Strait exchanges and set the tone of such exchanges as "democratic consultations" to achieve its ultimate goal of eliminating the ROC. The CCP uses the holding of the Straits Forum to win endorsement of its policies among political parties, local governments, civic associations, and the public in Taiwan. It has also introduced measures ostensibly beneficial to Taiwan to attract Taiwanese people to the Mainland in the name of integrated development. In reality, however, these measures are nothing more than blank checks. They are merely part of the united front campaign to divide Taiwan. All parties should be fully aware of CCP’s political intent and jointly defend the sovereignty, freedom, and democracy of the ROC. The MAC will ensure lateral cooperation with competent authorities to jointly track the status of Taiwanese personnel visiting the Mainland, strengthen explanations on policies and regulations, and bolster management of exchanges.