President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Wednesday expressed his support for DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋), whose father’s company was sanctioned last week by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office to punish Shen for being a proponent of Taiwanese independence.
Lai said that the targeting of Shen and his family is an attempt by the CCP to sow division in Taiwanese society and encouraged Taiwanese people to remain united in the face of such tactics. He called on political parties not to sacrifice democracy for the sake of competition.
DPP spokesperson Justin Wu (吳崢) pointed out that since June 3, the Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group (HKTKWW), which is under the jurisdiction of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, has promoted a series of narratives attempting to discredit Shen. These narratives were then picked up by some Taiwanese media outlets. Shortly after, the TAO announced the latest sanctions on Shen and his father’s company. Per Wu, the KMT has used these narratives to cast aspersions on Shen and the ongoing legislative recall movement.
Lai also took the opportunity to remind the public that it has been six years since the Anti-Extradition Bill Movement took place in Hong Kong, which resulted in a government crackdown and suppression of the pro-democracy movement. He stressed the importance of remaining united to protect freedom and democracy in Taiwan.