Taiwan holds minority party leader for alleged China support

A taiwanese justice decreed the preventive arrest of the founder and president of the Taiwanese People's Communist Party, suspected of receiving funding and instructions from Beijing to run for local elections on November 28.

In a statement quoted by the Taiwanese news agency CNA, the District Attorney of Tainan, in the south of the island, indicated that the party leader, Lin Te-wang, accepted “instructions and funding” from the Chinese Communist Party to apply for leadership of a neighborhood in the Xinying district.

After the interrogation, prosecutors requested Lin's arrest for suspected violation of the Anti-Infiltration Act in force since 2020 and electoral legislation due to the risk of escape or consultation with third parties to destroy evidence.

The Tainan District Court has authorized pre-trial detention and has prohibited the suspect from maintaining contact with the outside world.

The arrest took place in the framework of a joint investigation of the prosecutors of Tainan and Hsinchu in northwestern Taiwan, after both received information that “external forces” attempted to influence this month’s elections.

Hsinchu's Attorney General also requested the arrest of Chen Zhen-zhou, a member of the party's central committee and candidate for leadership of a neighborhood in that city.

However, the local court ordered Chen's release on payment of a deposit of US$ 50,000 (EUR 1,369), imposing the obligation to remain in the registered residence.

Founded in 2017, the Taiwanese People's Communist Party advocates the establishment of socialism and “reunification” with China, although it has a marginal political expression, without parliamentary representation or positions in local government.

The investigation is part of the efforts of the Taiwanese authorities to combat the political influence of Beijing, which considers Taiwan an “inalienable part” of its territory and does not exclude the use of force to take control of the island.