Akio Yaita, the CEO of the Indo-Pacific Strategic Think Tank and a senior Japanese media person, was violently attacked in Taichung on July 6 this year. The Taichung District Court opened a hearing on the case on the 10th. The suspect Liao Gangfa fully pleaded guilty in court. The court switched to a simplified trial procedure and the verdict is scheduled to be pronounced on December 3. Akio Yaita pointed out that the prosecutor's indictment revealed that this case was not an ordinary street conflict, but a "cross-border violence incident" that was organized, planned and financially rewarded. The purpose was to create a "chilling effect" in Taiwanese society and achieve the effect of "killing one person to scare others."
Akio Yaita posted on Facebook that the most important news of the trial on the 10th was the criminal facts revealed in the prosecutor’s indictment and the suspect’s full confession in court. He pointed out that the prosecutors determined that the incident was an "organized, planned, and paid cross-border violence incident" rather than a simple incident of security.
According to Akio Yaita, the suspect Liao Gangfa is a member of the Hong Kong gang "Washenghe". In the past, he was entrusted by the sponsor to receive rewards for beating designated targets. This case also involved the division of labor between multiple people, who came to Taiwan to conduct inspections, surveillance and lookouts. In the end, Liao Gang took action, and the agreed remuneration was HK$100,000 (approximately NT$420,000).
Akio Yaita mentioned that Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China, once claimed after the incident that this was just an ordinary and sporadic security incident caused by "righteous indignation." He believes that what was revealed in the court hearing on the 10th is undoubtedly a "severe slap in the face" to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council's statement, and also makes the previous statement of "possible mistaken identity" put forward by some KMT legislators untenable.
In addition, Yaita Akio revealed that the court also asked him on the 10th whether he was willing to accept settlement, but he chose to refuse.
Akio Yaita admitted that there are certain risks in refusing to reconcile with Hong Kong gang members, but emphasized that this was not because he was particularly brave, but because he believed that he could not accept compensation in exchange for a lighter sentence for the perpetrators.
He pointed out that this case was not just a personal injury to him, but also involved the ability of people in Taiwan and all democratic societies to express their opinions and criticize politics freely without fear of cross-border violent persecution.
Yaita Akio said that if someone can hire gangs through money to silence those with different opinions, and the criminals can easily get away simply by paying compensation, I am afraid that more new victims will appear.
He further pointed out that in recent years, the CCP's infiltration and pressure on Taiwan is no longer limited to the political, economic and information fields. This case also reminds the public that the threat of violence may appear in daily life.
Akio Yaita finally emphasized that it is everyone's responsibility to defend Taiwan's democracy and freedom, and called on the people to go to the voting booths on November 28 to defend freedom of speech in a democratic way, as well as the accustomed but hard-won way of life.
