| Subjects: |
- Mainland China's instability; the PRC's crackdown on religion; Direct transportation for religious purposes.
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MAC Vice Chairman Chong-Pin Lin
at the February 3, 2000 Press Conference
His Report:
MAC Observation of Mainland Situation: Internal & External Factors
1. I have two documents for you. The first is the Council's observation of Mainland China's situation up to January 2000. One of the significant parts is that the stabilizing factors outweigh those distabilizing ones at the high level in Mainland China. However, the distabilizing factors at the lower levels have become more pronounced than in previous years. This summarizes Mainland China's internal situation. However, outwardly, Mainland China has maintained a high profile in its maneuvers in military, diplomatic, and even cross-strait affairs. You can refer to these two documents for further details. We are making analysis from both the positive and the negative sides. For one, we have enumerated the stabilizing and distabilizing political factors, and listed some economic indices as well.
- A. Economically, I wanted to stress that up to the end of December, Mainland China has experienced deflation for 27 months. There were other negative indices. For instance, budget deficits increased at a faster rate than two or three years ago. Good signs included the positive growth of Mainland China's exports had continued since July last year. Direct foreign investment dropped early last year, the first negative growth in 20 years.
- B. Socially, Mainland authorities tightened controls on the Falun Gong and publishing industries, although there were in some areas relaxation in the industry.
- C. There was instability over religious and ethnic minorities issues.
- D. Militarily, the PRC showed its high profile, as it developed and made public some of its killer weapons since last year.
- E. Diplomatically, the PRC continued its "great power" diplomacy as well as its "periphery diplomacy."
- F. As for cross-strait relations, which you cared about the most, the PRC also maintained a high profile.
MAC Analysis on Beijing's Attitude toward Religion: Crackdown Stopped not at Falun Gong
2. Another document for you is the Council's analysis on Beijing's attitude toward religious issues. The main points are as follows:
- Mainland Chinese courts handed down severe punishment to Falun Gong members with jail terms even longer than those for political prisoners.
- We can also observe a rare situation that Mainland China maintained a strong crackdown on not only Falun Gong, but also Christian, Catholic, and some family churches. Many were arrested. Other than Falun Gong, Xiang Gong, Kuo Gong, Mercy Gong, and Chinese Life-sustaining and Brain-improving Gong were all deemed evil sects.
- Mainland China appointed a bishop on the same day that the Vatican appointed one. This act came as a surprise at a time when Beijing was trying to improve relations with the Vatican.
- The 17th Karmapa Lama of Tibet departed Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, in early January this year, which became a very thorny issue for Beijing.
- While cracking down those so-called "evil sects," Mainland China stressed that all were dealt under the rule of law.
- In a relevant matter, Beijing tightened control on the Internet. This was because the wide penetration of some local sects was partly attributed to the Internet. So, Beijing incorporated controls for Internet as a part of its religious policy. All these were attributed to atheism, a founding principle of the Chinese communist regime. Today, what we see is only a real case application of its principle adopted a few decades ago.
Please read the two documents for more details.
Questions and Answers:
"Direct Shipping for Religious Purpose" Remains Indirect
- Q. Can you elaborate on direct shipping for religious purposes?
A. There have been some press reports. I would like to elaborate on the following five points.
- 1. Speaker Yen Chin-biao (of Taichung County Assembly) has been devoted to public affairs with excellent performance. Though I have not met him in person, I have admired him.
- 2. Press reports quoted Mr. Yen as criticizing me. I would like to accept his views and reflect on myself. I would also like to know more details and communicate with Speaker Yen.
- 3. The government's Mainland policy was formulated in accordance with the wishes of most people of the Republic of China. Under the three principles !V safety, parity, and dignity -- the government has tried its best to offer service for the convenience of the people while handling cross-strait affairs. The governing policy on transportation is for "indirect shipping" under a few principles, which we spoke of before: dock to the third place, operation by a foreign-flag ship, non-regular lines, and application for approval on a case-by-case basis. This case in question is not relevant to cross-strait negotiations. Press reports indicated that Speaker Yen has managed to reach arrangements in line with the current principle of "docking to a third place." MAC affirmed this result.
- 4. As you all know, the PRC is an atheist regime. Its recent crackdown against various religions has become stronger than before. If there is any new development, no matter that is a result of any form of religious inspiration, for Beijing to change its religious policy, we will certainly welcome that.
- 5. Matzu, the Goddess of Sea, is a local deity highly worshiped by the Chinese people for more than one thousand years. As the legend of the Goddess of Sea passes down over centuries, the life of an individual is transient and trivial. From her, there shall flow greater tolerance and harmony to the society, to bring mutual support and peace to the people of the two sides.
This is my explanation for the case.
No Comment on the US House Adoption TSEA
Q. The U.S. House of Representatives adopted the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act. What is your view?
A. The Ministry of National Defense (MOND) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) have answered that already. The passage of the act indicates Washington's support and attention to Taiwan's security. However, it is a domestic affair of the United States. We should refrain from any comments.
| The MAC News Briefing is an English transcript of the weekly news conference held by the Mainland Affairs Council. We try our best to provide an accurate English translation. In case of discrepancy, the Chinese text rules. |