A view of Taipei, the island of Taiwan Photo: VCG

 
In recent days, advocates of "Taiwan independence" called for the expulsion of more people from the mainland who are married to Taiwan residents, sparking greater controversy in the island. A total of 76 Taiwan-based scholars issued a joint statement criticizing the regional leader Lai Ching-te for using populism to rally support, suppressing free speech through ideological censorship and urging the DPP authorities to "step back from the brink."

Huang Te-Pei, a professor from Shih Hsin University who signed the joint statement, told the Global Times on Thursday that 17 strategies recently introduced by Lai signal a significant tightening of political policies, particularly regarding cross-Straits exchanges.

Moreover, the recent forced expulsion of Liu Zhengya, an influencer from the mainland, who has also been revoked of her residency status, sparked huge concerns over the increasingly restrictive and tense social environment in Taiwan, Huang said. 

Portraying the mainland as a "hostile external force," Lai outlined 17 strategies to counter so-called threats facing the island, including a number of restrictive policies on mutual visits by Taiwan and mainland residents as well as on cultural, academic and religious exchanges, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday. 

Altogether, 76 scholars including Huang and Academia Sinica member Chen Pei-jer first cited Germany's experience under the Nazi regime as an example, emphasizing that collective silence led the country into the abyss of totalitarian dictatorship, according to the joint statement obtained by the Global Times.  

Since taking office, Lai has continuously demonized the mainland and suppressed dissent by labeling opponents as pro-mainland, further deepening divisions within Taiwan society and using populism to rally his supporters, said the joint statement. 

The statement also cited the incident of Liu, who had expressed support for "reunification by force." Based on such a claim, she was forced to leave the island by the DPP authorities. This abuse of administrative discretion is a complete violation of the democratic rule of law and the government's responsibility to protect human rights, according to the joint statement. 

The official justification for Liu's expulsion and residency revocation was that she had "violated the two UN covenants" and "advocated war." However, we believe these accusations are entirely baseless, Huang said. 

In reality, Liu merely provided an analysis and perspective on the issue of reunification by force -she did not advocate for it. In contrast, internet influencers, such as Pa Chiung, who reported Liu to local authorities for her national reunification-related remarks, have previously been involved in producing a song that mocked and even incited war. Their content was far more provocative than anything Liu had said, Huang noted. 

The DPP authorities, while claiming to uphold "freedom, rule of law and human rights," have repeatedly abused judicial measures to oppress cross-Straits marriage groups, forcing these families apart, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday in response to Liu's "deportation." 

"Such actions are inhumane and morally reprehensible," Chen said.

Taiwan commentator and scholar Chiu Yi believed that the DPP authorities are using Liu's expulsion to create a chilling effect and foster a so-called sense of unity within Taiwan society. He predicts that the authorities will further target mainland spouses in the future, Chiu told the Global Times on Thursday. 

Additionally, by labeling the mainland as a foreign hostile force, the DPP authorities are essentially laying the groundwork for internal martial law, signaling a return to "green terror," Chiu said.

The second objective, according to Chiu, is to fill the power vacuum within the DPP's political landscape - by fueling hatred, they aim to mobilize voters and secure electoral gains.

In fact, the DPP authorities are actively fostering a "war is imminent" atmosphere in society to justify implementing various measures that push legal boundaries, Huang told the Global Times. 

By manipulating public opinions and promoting war preparedness, they are engaging in a dangerous political maneuver that poses a serious threat to Taiwan society, raising deep concerns, Huang said. 

"Lai's words and actions have further intensified cross-Straits tensions, making the confrontation more pronounced and severe - precisely the scenario we least want to see," Huang added. 

Also, recently Taipei First Girls' High School teacher Alice Ou was interviewed by mainland news outlet CCTV News. During the interview, she criticized Lai for labeling China a "hostile external force," after which she was reported to the relevant authorities, Taiwan United Daily News reported on Thursday. 

The Kuomintang criticized the DPP, saying that this is their intended goal: to instill fear and intimidate the people, suggesting that this isn't just about martial law - "Has the era of Taiwan's police chief been restored?" according to the report. 

The Taiwan Affairs Office of State Council launched an online platform on Wednesday for reporting the malicious acts of "Taiwan independence" henchmen and accomplices persecuting Taiwan compatriots and has received 323 reports via email as of 5 pm Wednesday.

After reviewing the submitted reports, the individuals named include "Taiwan independence" online influencers Wen Tzu-yu, aka Pa Chiung and Chen Po-yuan. 

The reports accuse these individuals of various malicious acts, such as fabricating charges to suppress opposition parties, threatening to dissolve pro-unification groups, deliberately detaining individuals who support peaceful cross-Straits relations, openly violating the legitimate rights of mainland spouses, and even calling for the "hunting down" of mainland spouses, Chen said. 

The reports express strong indignation at the persecution and suppression carried out by these individuals. We will further verify the reported information, adhering to the facts and the law, and will hold these accountable in accordance with the law, said the spokesperson.