There is an increasing divergence between China and Taiwan with respect to protecting human rights.

The Diplomat
Date: October 03, 2017
By: Margaret K. Lewis

The gulf between legal systems across the Taiwan Strait is far wider than a hundred

Reporters film a screen showing a video footage of detained Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-Che testifying at his trial a the Yueyang Intermediate People’s Court in Yueyang, south China’s Hunan province, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017.
Image Credit: AP Photo/Emily Wang

miles. Last month, Lee Ming-che — a Taiwanese citizen and human-rights activist — pleaded guilty to subversion charges in China for peacefully expressing political opinions. Today he remains in custody awaiting a decision on his punishment. Lee’s case has heightened already strained cross-strait relations. It has also laid bare the increasing divergence between China and Taiwan with respect to protecting human rights.

In three decades, Taiwan has transformed from martial law to a flourishing democracy embracing international human rights norms. China simultaneously has not only remained under strict one-party rule but also seen a shrinking space for civil society and a crackdown on lawyers who advocate for their clients’ rights. In Lee’s case, he was denied representation of his choosing. His court-appointed lawyer spent less than five minutes questioning his client and failed to present any favorable evidence. Lee’s defense consisted of a well-rehearsed statement of how he had been misled by Taiwan’s media and had only learned the truth about China from watching television programs while held in criminal detention.    [FULL  STORY]