Support for Hong Kong protesters lands Taiwan politician in hot water
- Facebook post by pro-independence councillor referred to police by political rival
- Donations of supplies may be in breach of self-ruled island’s national security laws
A pro-independence councillor from the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung could be one of the first people in Taiwan to face charges under the self-ruled island’s newly revised national security law, over a Facebook post in support of Hong Kong’s anti-government demonstrators.
Huang Jie, from the New Power Party, posted a call on her Facebook page on Saturday for donations of anti-tear gas equipment and other supplies for the Hong Kong protesters, who are in their 10th week of conflict over a proposal, now suspended, that would have allowed people from the city to be extradited to mainland China.
Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) councillor Chan Chiang-chun, from Taoyuan City in the north of Taiwan, said that Huang’s post violated the security law, which forbids Taiwanese from offering supplies and aid to hostile countries, including China’s special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
The law means that Taiwanese supporters of the Hong Kong protesters risk up to 10 years’ jail and a maximum fine of NT$30 million (US$950,000) if they contribute funds or supplies.
Huang is a vocal critic of KMT presidential candidate and Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu.
“Under the revised law, Huang is allegedly in violation by aiding enemy forces, which cover Hong Kong and Macau, and for this I have taken the case to the police for legal proceeding,” Chan said.