Lee Ming-cheol visits the European Parliament, hoping to deepen cooperation on civil rights issues between Taiwan and Europe

(Central News Agency reporter Wu Baiwei, Brussels, 13th) Li Mingzhe, a human rights worker who was once imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party, visited the European Parliament today and communicated with members. Lee Ming-che explained how China's transnational repression affects democratic societies, and raised demands for protecting human rights workers, following up on the follow-up actions of the Hong Kong resolution, and deepening non-governmental cooperation between Taiwan and Europe.

According to a press release issued by the Chinese Democracy College, the "Human Rights Connection" Lee Ming-che European Democracy Initiative Touring Team, led by Xie Zhiwei, Representative to the EU and Belgium, paid a visit to members of the European Parliament on the 13th. The exchange meeting was chaired by Bernard Guetta, Member of the European Parliament, and attended by Engin Eroglu, Member of the European Parliament.

Li Mingzhe first thanked the European Parliament for its past support for his detention in China. He pointed out that transnational repression not only targets public advocates, but may also use threats to family members, local collaborators and information manipulation to prevent the persecuted and their families from seeking help or revealing the truth.

He used his own experience in detention to explain that the Chinese government, through local collaborators, threatened his wife with his safety and asked her to stop speaking to the outside world and cut off ties with the Taiwanese government and civil society.

Lee Ming-che said that after returning to Taiwan, other family members of those detained in China also asked him for help. In addition to worrying about the situation of their loved ones, they are also worried that making the case public or seeking help from the Taiwan government will cause adverse consequences for their families. This method of silencing the person concerned for the safety of his or her loved ones will prevent the outside world from understanding the truth and will also make human rights workers face isolation.

He called on democratic countries to provide necessary public power protection, cooperate with NGOs, and through public discussion and social mutual assistance, so that people who are threatened can seek help safely and continue to participate in public affairs.

Councilors Kutta and Airoglu listened to the delegation's sharing and exchanged views with the delegation on Taiwan's situation in the face of pressure from China.

In their response, they cross-referenced the situation between Taiwan and China with the situation in Ukraine and Russia. In addition to asking about Taiwan's assistance to Ukraine, they were also concerned about how Taiwan responded to transnational repression and China's infiltration.

When asked by members of the European Parliament how Taiwan responded to China's invasion and transnational repression, Xiao Yimin, a member of the tour team and a human rights worker, described "Taiwanese people's resistance, both visible and invisible."

He cited the protection of crime victims as an example. China is trying to use criminal incidents to amplify society's distrust of the government and judiciary through information manipulation, and divide Taiwanese society. Therefore, providing better protection and support for victims and building a society where people help each other and trust each other are also daily tasks to safeguard democracy.

He also used the Li Mingzhe case to illustrate resistance that is not easily visible to the outside world. Lee Ming-che has long introduced Taiwan's democratic experience to the Chinese people through the Internet, and organized a support network of more than 500 people to raise donations and regularly assist the families of imprisoned Chinese political prisoners in maintaining their basic lives. This cross-border democratic exchange and mutual aid between citizens allows families facing political persecution to feel supported.

Xiao Yimin emphasized that China's threat to Taiwan is not only a military issue, but also directly affects people's freedom, democracy and human rights. Judicial reform, victim protection and human rights work are all part of resisting authoritarianism. (Editor: Tian Ruihua) 1151014