ANY ASSISTANCE:Lee was about to travel to China, after the Chinese government yesterday confirmed that the trial of her husband, Lee Ming-che, was to begin imminently

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 08, 2017
By: Lin Liang-sheng and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer

The government has hired a lawyer for Lee Ching-yu (李凈瑜), the wife of Taiwanese human rights activist Lee Ming-che (李明哲), who is being held in China on charges of subversion, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Deputy Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday.

The council would try to obtain permission from the Chinese government for the MAC-hired lawyer, as well as Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) personnel and private individuals to accompany Lee Ching-yu, he said.

Lee Ching-yu on Wednesday said she would go to China to attend her husband’s trial, after his court-appointed Chinese lawyer, Zhang Zhongwei (張忠偉), called to inform her of the impending trial.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesman An Fengshan (安峰山) last night confirmed that Lee Ming-che’s trial was about to begin at the Intermediate People’s Court in Yueyang, Hunan Province.

The MAC is using its communication channels to initiate dialogue and has called on the TAO to facilitate Lee Ching-yu’s travel in China, Chiu said.    [FULL STORY]