Yaita Akio Attacked; Tsai Chi-chang: Violence Will Never Shatter Taiwan's Democratic Achievements

(Central News Agency, Taipei, July 7) Yaita Akio, CEO of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Think Tank, was attacked in Taichung yesterday, sparking discussion. Tsai Chi-chang, convener of the Democratic Progressive Party caucus in the Legislative Yuan, said today that he has asked the police and national security agencies to be highly vigilant and to fully investigate whether foreign forces or specific organizations were involved behind the violence. He added that the fear brought by violence will never shatter the democratic achievements built by generations of Taiwanese.

Yaita Akio was punched in the face by a man in black after a camp event in Taichung on the 6th. Police learned that a Taiwanese man surnamed Liao, a Chinese national, was attempting to leave the country with a Hong Kong passport. They rushed to Taichung Airport and apprehended Liao, who was disguised and preparing to fly to Busan, South Korea.

Tsai Chi-chang wrote on Facebook today that he had called Yaita Akio to express his deepest condolences, stating that regardless of the motive behind the incident, such despicable acts cannot represent the majority of Hong Kong people.

Tsai Chi-chang said that given the suspect's Chinese background, he has asked the police and national security agencies to be highly vigilant and to fully investigate, ensuring that foreign forces or specific organizations involved behind the violence are clarified.

Tsai Chi-chang also stated that Taiwan is Taiwan because, no matter how different opinions are or how much noise there is, it strives to persuade people through discourse, rather than forcing them to bow through violence. He pointed out that the fear brought by violence will never shatter the democratic achievements built by generations of Taiwanese. (Editor: Yang Kai-hsiang) 1150707

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