Lee Ming-che

Lee Ming-che (李明哲; born 1975) is a Taiwanese pro-democracy activist, detained by Chinese authorities in late March 2017.[1][2] After Lee entered the domain of China from Macao, he lost the ability to directly contact his family.[3] There have been calls for his immediate release by human rights activists around the world. These include Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong, who joined Taiwan's New Power Party Executive Chairman Huang Kuo-chang, and former Sunflower Movement leaders to condemn Lee’s continued detention.[4]

Lee is a former worker for the Democratic Progressive Party and NGO employee, and the incident has led to friction between security institutions in Taiwan and China.[5]

A representative of the Chinese government has stated that Lee is under investigation on suspicion of harming national security.[6] Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), has said in a press conference that Lee is "currently in good physical condition".[7]

Lee’s wife, Lee Ching-yu, called on Beijing to immediately release him, and to clarify the charges brought against him and ensure his rights.[8] Lee has previously used social media to promote the success of Taiwan's democracy to 'at least 100 people' in communist China.[9] On this occasion, he had gone to China to arrange for his mother-in-law's medical treatment.[10] In an effort to find her husband, Lee Ching-yu booked a flight from Taiwan to China on 10 April,[11] however she has been banned from entering China by its Ministry of Public Security.[12]

On 13 April, an editorial in Taiwan News asserted that this is the type of situation that should be covered by the “Cross-Strait Joint Crime-Fighting and Judicial Mutual Assistance Agreement”.[13]

On September 2017, Lee Ming-che pleaded guilty to "subverting state power" in a court in Hunan. His wife and supporters say his confession was forced. [14]

References

  1. ↑ "China confirms arrest of Taiwan activist Lee Ming-che | Taiwan News". Al Jazeera. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  2. ↑ "China: Taiwan NGO worker detained on vague national security charges". Amnesty International. 29 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "'I know he is alive': wife of Taiwan activist seized by China pleads for release". The Guardian. 28 April 2017.
  4. ↑ "China urged to release Lee Ming-che". Taipei Times. 2017-03-27. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  5. ↑ Taiwan News (1 April 2017). "The Lee Ming-che incident, a big fight between Taiwan and China security institutions". Taiwan News. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  6. ↑ "Taiwanese rights advocate Lee Ming-che held in China". BBC News. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  7. ↑ "Lee Ming-che held on suspicion of 'endangering national security': China". The China Post. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  8. ↑ "Wife, rights groups urge Lee's release". Taipei Times. 2017-03-27. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  9. ↑ "China's detention of a human rights activist from Taiwan won't do relations any good". LA Times. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  10. ↑ "Lee Ming-che's wife says he's in detention in China | Cross-Strait Affairs | FOCUS TAIWAN - CNA ENGLISH NEWS". Focustaiwan.tw. 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  11. ↑ Matthew Strong (2017-04-04). "Wife of detained Taiwan rights activist books flight to China". Taiwan News. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  12. ↑ Chris Horton (2017-04-10). "Wife of Detained Activist From Taiwan Is Barred From China". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  13. ↑ Staff writer (2017-04-13). "Editorial: Clear the sky above the Taiwan Straits by freeing Lee now". Taiwan News. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  14. ↑ http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news.php?id=96419&sid=3
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