PROMOTING CHINA:A Mainland Affairs Council official said that Su Shulin did not do anything ‘inappropriate,’ while the interior ministry promised to launch a probe
By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
China’s Fujian Province Governor Su Shulin (蘇樹林) has violated Taiwanese law by promoting investment in China and should be expelled, pan-green lawmakers said yesterday.
The Chinese official had made high-profile comments to attract Taiwanese investment to the province’s Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone during his visit, despite a Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) warning against such a move, lawmakers said.
Su ignored the warning and repeatedly touted China’s invitation to Taiwanese investors to participate in the zone’s development under the so-called “five commons” — common planning, common development, common operation, common management and common benefits — at his meeting with former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan (連戰) on Tuesday, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Pan Men-an (潘孟安) said.
The Chinese official violated the Rules Governing Permits for Professional Personnel from the Mainland Area Engaging in Professional Activities in Taiwan (大陸地區專業人士來臺從事專業活動許可辦法), which includes a ban on visiting Chinese professionals promoting investment in China, Pan said.
The governor, who was invited by the Chinese National Federation of Industries (工業總會, CNFI) as a professional, also violated the Act Governing Relations Between the Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (台灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), which prohibits visiting Chinese nationals from engaging in unauthorized activities upon their entry, Pan said.
“The CNFI and Su should be fined, and Su should be deported immediately,” he said.
Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Kao Charng (高長) told the legislature that the council had been monitoring Su’s visit and comments and “found nothing inappropriate so far.”
DPP Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (邱志偉) accused the council of inaction and making excuses for Su, adding that it was just a “rubber stamp” for the ruling party.
“MAC Minister Lai Shin-yuan (賴幸媛) should be held accountable and should step down immediately,” Chiu said.
Taiwan Solidarity Union legislators Lin Shih-chia (林世嘉) and Huang Wen-ling (黃文玲) agreed, accusing the council of dereliction of duty by doing nothing. They also demanded Su’s immediate deportation.
Minister of the Interior Lee Hong-yuan (李鴻源) told the legislature the ministry would launch an investigation into Su’s activities.
Su concluded his five-day visit yesterday and returned to China last night.
China is developing the experimental economic zone on Pingtan Island to host high-tech companies and factories.
While Beijing says the zone would “deepen cross-strait ties,” Taiwanese analysts are concerned that Taiwan’s economy would suffer if more domestic businesses were to relocate.