cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/55833005

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Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Wednesday criticized China for “glorifying violence” after Beijing described the assault on Taiwan-based political commentator Akio Yaita as being motivated by “righteous indignation.”

Yaita, CEO of the Indo-Pacific Strategic Thinktank, was punched in the face in Taichung on Monday by a Hongkonger surnamed Liu (廖), in a case Taiwanese authorities have speculated could involve “transnational repression” and China’s new ethnic unity law.

In a statement issued Wednesday, MAC, Taiwan’s top government agency handling cross-strait affairs, said Beijing had failed to condemn the assault and had instead “glorified violence” by describing it as an act motivated by “righteous indignation.”

“What the Chinese Communist Party said today was either a blatant lie or an attempt to treat Taiwanese people as fools,” MAC said.

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The agency was referring to remarks made earlier in the day by Chen Binhua (陳斌華), spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), who said Liu had acted out of “righteous indignation” and that the incident was an “ordinary” public security case that occurred by chance.

Chen accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government of using the incident for “political manipulation” and of distorting the recently implemented Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law to “stir up cross-strait confrontation” and “mislead and intimidate” people in Taiwan.

[…]

With Liu now detained by Taiwanese authorities following his arrest, Chen also warned the DPP authorities that Liu’s “legitimate rights and interests” should not be harmed, and that the safety of his person and property should be protected.

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