UK Newspaper Interviews Yao Wen-hsiang on Beijing's Transnational Suppression Threatening Taiwan

(CNA London, June 29) One of Britain's major newspapers, The Daily Telegraph, today published an interview with Representative to the UK Yao Wen-hsiang. Yao Wen-hsiang discussed how Beijing's transnational suppression and long-arm jurisdiction pose a threat to Taiwanese citizens and politicians, and that China's planned new mega-embassy in London might use its underground secret rooms to detain Taiwanese individuals.

The interview report with Yao Wen-hsiang briefly appeared on the front page of The Daily Telegraph's official website this morning, remaining in a prominent position for several hours, alongside news related to Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Manchester and the sole candidate for the leadership of the ruling Labour Party, who is considered a "de facto prime minister."

China plans to build the largest embassy in Europe near the City of London, opposite the famous historical landmark the Tower of London. Due to its unusual size, numerous "secret rooms" with unclear purposes, and its proximity to key underground cables and telecommunications facilities in London, the construction project is suspected of potentially becoming a mega-base for Beijing's espionage activities and transnational suppression, with the surrounding cables at risk of being "tapped" or damaged.

Local residents and British human rights organizations have attempted to overturn the British government's decision to approve the construction of the mega-embassy through legal proceedings. Construction by the Chinese side is prohibited during the trial period.

Facing widespread attention from the British media regarding the issue of China's mega-embassy, Taiwan's official stance has generally been not to comment, adhering to the basic principle that "this is a matter between the UK and China, and does not involve Taiwan-UK relations."

However, in the context of Beijing continuously intensifying its transnational suppression and long-arm jurisdiction, Yao Wen-hsiang expressed Taiwan's concerns in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.

Yao Wen-hsiang stated that Taiwan's concern is whether China might use the new mega-embassy as a base in the future to pursue and detain overseas dissidents.

Yao Wen-hsiang pointed out that such a scenario cannot be ruled out, as Beijing's persecution targets not only Hong Kongers but also Taiwanese people. Taiwanese politicians visiting the UK should not dismiss the risk of being "kidnapped" by the Chinese side and detained in the embassy's "secret rooms."

Taiwanese politicians listed on Beijing's "blacklist" and labeled as so-called "diehard separatists" may face even higher risks, including legislators. Yao Wen-hsiang mentioned that Taiwanese politicians in the UK also need to be wary of Beijing's "secret police."

Beijing's espionage, surveillance, and long-arm jurisdiction activities in the UK have repeatedly drawn public attention recently. Cases involving Chinese institutions in the UK include the incident in October 2022 where diplomatic staff at the Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester dragged protesters into the consulate premises and assaulted them, as well as the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London's involvement in illegal surveillance and "overseas law enforcement" activities by the Hong Kong government and Beijing in the UK.

Beijing's "secret underground police stations" set up around the world have also been a subject of discussion in recent years.

A 2022 investigation by Safeguard Defenders, an international human rights organization based in Spain, estimated that there are over 100 secret underground police stations globally, spread across more than 50 countries. In Europe, these include Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and the UK, with Italy having the most at over 10.

China claims that these overseas liaison points are established to serve overseas citizens and provide administrative convenience.

On the other hand, The Daily Telegraph mentioned that the infiltration and intelligence gathering targeting overseas Taiwanese communities have already attracted the attention of Western intelligence and security agencies. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150629

Stand with the truth, your every donation is a force to protect press freedom.

Download the CNA "One-Stop News" APP to get the latest news in real-time.

Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.