Taiwan probe of pro-China party angers Beijing

BeIJInG: China has expressed its strong opposition and concern after the Taiwan government began a probe into a tiny but passionately pro-China opposition party for national security reasons, the latest flashpoint between Beijing and Taipei.

Taiwanese investigators searched the homes of four officials from the New Party, which currently has no members of parliament, on Tuesday on suspicion they had violated the National Security Act.

A New Party delegation, including at least one of those whose homes was raided, party spokesman Wang Ping-chung, visited China last week as part of a scheduled trip to meet China’s policy-making Taiwan Affairs Office.

The New Party has denounced the raids as politically motivated, although Taiwanese prosecutors have not given details of what they are suspected of.

Party chairman Yok Mu-ming, cited in Taiwanese media, asked how such a small party with no legislators could be seen to have any secrets, and said that they had nothing to fear from the probe.

In a short statement released late on Tuesday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office praised the New Party for its stance in opposing Taiwan independence and upholding the “one China” principle, which states that Taiwan is part of China.

“Taiwan authorities have shielded and connived with Taiwan independent splittists, and taken various moves to wantonly crack down on and persecute forces and people who uphold peaceful reunification,” it said.

“We strongly condemn this and are paying close attention to developments,” the office said. — Reuters