There are several viewpoints on what ‘Taiwanese independence’ truly means. Unless you’re in the CCP.
The News Lens
Date: 2018/11/09
By: Hsu Ting-wei (許庭瑋)
Credit: Reuters / Tyrone Siu
The Chinese government, and its internet users, have recently worked tirelessly to denounce and boycott the any momentum to Taiwanese independence.
From the group of (to paraphrase Beijing’s terminology) “pro-Taiwan independence artists” such as Chou Tzuyu (TZUYU, 周子瑜), Ruby Lin (林心如), and Vivian Sung (宋芸樺), to President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) visit to the “pro-Taiwan independence enterprise” of 85C Bakery Café in California, China has spared no effort to sanction these so-called pro-independence individuals and organizations.
China’s response may be shocking to many people, who scratch their heads in bewilderment wondering how, exactly, Beijing has determined that any of these people or café chains are in favor of an independent Taiwan.
In order to ease the pressures from Beijing on Taiwanese enterprises and businessmen, Sean Lien (連勝文) of the Kuomintang (KMT) specifically released a statement calling for calm with China, explaining that 85C Bakery Cafe “had no specific political involvement or preference.” While he was at it, he also took a swipe at Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and those who do, in fact, advocate for Taiwanese independence, saying they were responsible for provoking Beijing to react.
[FULL STORY]
