National Security Considerations Are So Useful: from Community Assistants to Taipei Twin Towers Project

 National Security Considerations Are So Useful: from Community Assistants to Taipei Twin Towers Project

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

July 2, 2019

 Translation of an Excerpt

Ko Wen-je had just blown his top yesterday morning for the delay of approval of the Taipei Twin Towers project, accusing President Tsai by asking: "Do I really have to go to the official presidential residence for a call?" In the afternoon the same day, he received a response with a heavy slap in the face. The Foreign Investment Review Commission under the Economics Ministry rejected the development case application on the grounds of involving "national security."

Plainly speaking, there are four purposes for the Foreign Investment Review Commission to reject the investment application of "Nan Hai Corporation" in the development of the Twin Towers: First, killing a chicken to scare the monkeys, warning all chiefs of cities and counties to know “who is the boss"; they should be respectful to President Tsai. Second, giving a down on Ko Wen-je, undermining his governance in "turning over the axis in western Taipei City", relegating both the Taipei Dome and the Twin Towers project to "negative governance records." Third, stopping Ko Wen-je’s march in the presidential race, leaving no glow on his face when he goes to the Mainland for the Twin Cities Forum, and no productive results to brag about upon his return. Fourth, demonstrating her authority to the opposition parties and the masses, indicating that the sword of "national security" is ubiquitous and unparalleled in sharpness, with no defense possible.

After Tsai Ing-wen turned into “Joan of Arc” last January, all branches of government have not dared to deviate from her path. At the end of March, the Interior Ministry started to impose penalties on citizens who served as "community assistants" on the Mainland, demanding that they must resign immediately. In fact, a "community assistant" is nothing but a job of a cadre on the community management committee; who knew that under the Tsai government’s anti-China policy, it surprisingly violated the "Statute Governing Cross-Strait Relations" which the DPP expanded. Recently, the Council of Agriculture rushed to follow suit, issuing letters to Taiwan citizens who had accepted appointment by Zhangpu County, Fujian Province as “agricultural special correspondents” for interviews. The purpose is to create a consciousness of hostility and cross-Strait hatred. But may we ask, does this have anything to do with national security?

Tsai Ing-wen firing rifles and cannons externally, what she is playing internally is the big sword of "national security.” Not only using stringent penalties to block retired generals and ranking officials from visiting the Mainland, the Tsai government even wants to pursue and arrest grassroots masses who serve as meager community assistants or agricultural special correspondents; for overseas entrepreneurs who invest in Taiwan, it can also use ambivalent pretexts of "national security" to block them. With powerful armor of national security for Tsai Ing-wen’s protection, no matter how strong the Han Kuo-yu vogue is or how high Ko Wen-je's IQ is, probably both will have to kneel down in submission. Those who prostrate in deep veneration in the presence of Tsai Ing-wen must also beware: the dragnet of national security may one day be cast over their heads.

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