[Cross-Strait] Rao Ching-ling's participation in Straits Forum sparks controversy; Liang Wen-chieh: Long-term dependence on the mainland for farmers is not a sustainable solution
bellala 央廣3h agoEdited
Taitung County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling promoted agricultural products at the Cross-Strait Forum organized by the CCP through a video recording. Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh stated today (18th) that while Magistrate Rao's efforts to secure sales channels for farmers are well-intentioned, it is not a sustainable long-term strategy to allow Taiwanese farmers to be held hostage by the mainland, and consequently, to hold the government hostage as well. #Reported by reporter Chen Kuo-wei#
The CCP recently held the 18th Cross-Strait Forum. Our side prohibits personnel from central government agencies and local governments from participating in related activities. However, Taitung County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling promoted agricultural products at the Cross-Strait Forum by recording a video. Some officials believe this constitutes cooperative behavior and violates the Cross-Strait Relations Act.
MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh stated on the 18th that the Ministry of the Interior is currently conducting an administrative investigation to understand whether Magistrate Rao's recorded remarks violate Article 33-1 of the "Cross-Strait Relations Act." The MAC must reiterate that the Cross-Strait Forum is a large-scale united front platform organized by the CCP. The MAC established this positioning as early as 2012, when the forum was only in its fourth session and Ma Ying-jeou was president, with Lai Shin-yuan as MAC Minister. Therefore, the MAC's positioning of the Cross-Strait Forum has not changed over the past decade.
Liang Wen-chieh reiterated that the MAC does not prohibit local chiefs from promoting agricultural products in mainland China, but rather prohibits participation in the Cross-Strait Forum. He also pointed out that Taiwanese people rarely consume pineapple soursop because it is very sweet and very large. Unlike regular soursop that can be broken apart by hand, it needs to be sliced. A small family might not be able to finish it even after three meals. Therefore, there is almost no domestic market for it in Taiwan, and over 90% of its production relies on procurement from mainland China.
Liang Wen-chieh said that pineapple soursop can be considered an agricultural product that completely depends on the CCP's goodwill. The CCP frequently interrupts sales channels based on the political situation across the Strait. Liang Wen-chieh: "(Original sound) Therefore, we believe Magistrate Rao's efforts to secure channels for farmers are indeed well-intentioned; however, if we allow farmers to be held hostage by the mainland long-term, and consequently hold the government hostage, this is not a sustainable solution. As for specific policies, I believe our agricultural authorities will consider them."
He also mentioned that when President Lai was the mayor of Tainan, she exported pineapples to mainland China, and then-Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu visited mainland China multiple times. These events occurred before Tsai Ing-wen was elected president in 2016. At that time, the CCP's policy towards Taiwan aimed to use incentives to achieve its united front objectives with DPP members or mayors of DPP-led cities. However, after 2016, the CCP's policy towards Taiwan became: if the "1992 Consensus" is not recognized, there will be no interaction. Then, many people were labeled as "Taiwanese independence elements," and sales channels for some agreed-upon agricultural products were cut off. This is the result of the cumulative changes over the years.
He also mentioned that the CCP's united front tactics have become increasingly varied in recent years. If the government declares an activity as a united front activity, participation is prohibited. Central and local public officials are requested to cooperate and not participate.
Source link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215371
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