OFFICE OF LEGISLATOR BIKHIM HSIAO

Address: Chingdao East Road No. 10, 3503 10051 臺北市中正區青島東路 10 號 3503 室

Tel: 02-2358-6176

March 25, 2014

To whom it may concern:

I am writing to share with you some updates on the situation in Taiwan, my home

country. Taiwan is currently at a critical juncture of democratic development,

which requires greater international attention.

On March 18, hundreds of students from various universities in Taiwan entered

the chamber of the Legislative Yuan, the Parliament of Taiwan, in protest of the

government’s disregard of the public demand that democratic procedures of

legislative scrutiny and approval must be followed over a trade agreement it

recently signed with China. A couple hundred students have continued to occupy

the chamber for days, while thousands more students have persistently gathered

outside, around the legislature. On March 23, some agitated students, frustrated

by the government’s refusal to dialogue, entered the cabinet offices, but later in

the evening were removed by riot police demonstrating a degree of state violence

not seen in Taiwan since Martial Law. In the meantime, dozens of university

professors have echoed their support for the students by bringing their classes

over to the rally site for outdoor lectures on democracy, civil rights, and China

relations. Polls illustrate that the majority of the Taiwanese public are

sympathetic to the actions of the students, and a tremendous amount of public

support has been demonstrated.

While economic stagnation, the growing wealth disparity, falling wages and

skyrocketing housing costs in Taiwan have been fueling social tension and

discontent in the country, the catalyst for the student action was the KMT party’s

attempt to force the trade agreement through the legislative committee without

any review. The trade agreement, which opens the service sector in Taiwan to

Chinese investment and allows Chinese nationals to live and work in Taiwan, has

been extremely controversial. There were no prior consultations with the various

affected industry sectors before the agreement was signed. The parliament was

neither briefed nor informed in advance, and the government even attempted to

implement the agreement without parliamentary ratification. It was only after

protests by the legislature that enabled an inter-party deal that promised to hold

public hearings, followed by review and vote clause-by-clause, item-by-item, in

the parliament.

OFFICE OF LEGISLATOR BIKHIM HSIAO

Address: Chingdao East Road No. 10, 3503 10051 臺北市中正區青島東路 10 號 3503 室

Tel: 02-2358-6176

Aside from the lack of transparency and the government’s disregard for

democratic procedures, critics are worried that the agreement would open the

door to greater Chinese economic and social influence in Taiwan. Furthermore,

experts have pointed out that a number of the clauses in the agreement are not

fully equal and fair. For example, for the e-commerce sector, Taiwan opens up the

entire market to China, while the Chinese side has designated only the province

of Fukien as a permitted base of operation for Taiwanese companies. On March

17, in violation of the previous inter-party deal for detailed scrutiny of the

agreement in the legislative committee, the KMT co-chair of the committee made

a thirty-second announcement that the trade agreement was passed already. This

blatant disregard of democratic procedures over an agreement which would have

a significant impact on Taiwan’s society and future relations with China, has

infuriated not only students and relevant industry sectors, but the greater public

in Taiwan.

Since the student occupation, President Ma has refused to dialogue and respond

to the questions and concerns they have raised. Students are distressed that Ma

and his government are apparently more eager to dialogue with China, a country

which threatens Taiwan’s democratic existence with missiles and military force,

yet unwilling to come face to face with the peaceful and patriotic students. The

use of excessive violence by riot police on the unarmed, peaceful demonstrators

at the Executive Yuan (cabinet offices), has also further enflamed the upset

students.

We believe the future of Taiwan’s democracy is at stake, with an arrogant

government refusing to dialogue with its society, instead willing to use force and

lies to suppress the peaceful aspirations of the people. The future of Taiwan’s

survival is also at stake, with a president eager to do whatever it takes to bring

Taiwan closer to China.

Taiwan’s prosperity was built on the hard work of the Taiwanese people. The

diligent and peace-loving people of Taiwan are willing to engage with China

socially and economically, but only on dignified and fair terms. Any agreement

with China that would have significant social, economic, and national security

costs on the Taiwanese people, must be scrutinized and reviewed with much

detail, not forcefully implemented.

Taiwan’s democracy was hard-won, by many courageous people who were

OFFICE OF LEGISLATOR BIKHIM HSIAO

Address: Chingdao East Road No. 10, 3503 10051 臺北市中正區青島東路 10 號 3503 室

Tel: 02-2358-6176

willing to sacrifice their lives and freedom to break the confines of Martial Law

and one-party dictatorship decades ago. We do not want to see a backward slide

in Taiwan’s free and democratic way of living, and we appeal to you to support us

in safeguarding Taiwan’s democracy.

I urge friends of the international community to extend your support to the

students and express concern for the status Taiwan’s democracy and survival.

Thank you for your attention.

A concerned citizen of Taiwan