Taipei, June 17 (CNA) The Ministry of the Interior on Monday warned Taiwanese people not to form political parties under the influence of foreign forces amid allegations that Chinese groups have tried to recruit prominent Taiwanese figures to set up political parties.
In a statement, the Ministry of the Interior said Taiwanese people have the right to form political parties, but cannot accept direction or funding from foreign forces to develop them, as this would violate the national security law and the anti-infiltration law.
The statement was made in response to Facebook posts posted by Taiwanese singer R-chord (Hsieh Hexian) on June 14 and actress Alexis Ho (What Qi) on June 15.
The posts stated that a Chinese company, Beijing Cigang Film and Television Media Co., Ltd., had attempted to solicit people to take part in pro-China activities via email.
Screenshots of emails posted by the artists suggested they were introduced as vice chairpersons of the “Taiwan Support Peace Party” after publishing a statement on their Facebook page titled “Let’s Establish a New Type of Cross-Strait Relations.”
They were also offered job opportunities that reportedly could earn more than NT$10 million (US$308,950) a year.
According to a screenshot of the message, the company predicted that once the statement was released, “at least 1,000 people will be influenced to become founding members of the Taiwan Pro-Peace Party.”
According to information from Chinese business search platform iQiCha, the company was founded in February 2023 with registered capital of 90 million Chinese yuan (US$12.4 million).
The company’s business is described as primarily providing services such as producing films and television programs, and planning cultural and artistic exchange activities.
As of Monday, no party named “Pro-Taiwan Party” was listed on a political party information website run by the Ministry of the Interior, the government agency that oversees Taiwan’s political party law.
The Ministry of Interior said there were other cases of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) supporting political parties.
The report said leaders and officials of Taiwan’s Republican Party and People’s Communist Party of Taiwan were suspected of receiving instructions and funding from the Chinese Communist Party to promote or support specific candidates in elections.
Pursuant to Article 2 of the National Security Law, no person may engage in any act such as founding, funding, hosting, operating, directing or developing an organization for or on behalf of a foreign country, China, Hong Kong, Macau or a foreign hostile force, or an organization established or effectively controlled by them.
Section 3 of the Anti-Infiltration Act provides that anyone receiving direction, commission or funding from an infiltration source may not make political contributions or contribute funds to activities related to the referendum.
