Was Yamita Akio Attack Meant to Dilute the Carcinogenic Oil Scandal? Guo Zhengliang Raises Doubts Over 'Cross-Border Suppression': Lai Qingde's Stance Could Be the Start of a Disaster

Japanese media veteran and executive director of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Think Tank, Akio Yamita, attended a Chunyu Cultural and Educational Foundation event in Taichung on the morning of the 6th and delivered a speech. Immediately afterward, he was punched in the face by a man holding a Hong Kong passport, resulting in injuries. The suspect, a man surnamed Liao, has since been detained without visitation rights, and the case is being investigated for assault charges, with ongoing efforts to clarify whether national security factors are involved.

Following the incident, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) quickly framed the attack on Yamita as 'cross-border suppression.' On the 9th, former legislator Guo Zhengliang analyzed the situation on his program 'Liang Talks the World,' suggesting that the DPP's narrative was deliberately intended to overshadow the escalating carcinogenic oil scandal.

Reviewing the incident, the suspect, Liao, first confirmed, 'Are you Mr. Yamita?' at the hotel before suddenly punching Yamita in the face, causing lacerations to his lips, loose teeth, and jaw contusions. He fled the scene immediately after the attack.

Liao entered Taiwan on July 2 with a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport. After the incident, he quickly headed to Taichung International Airport to board a flight to Seoul, but was intercepted by Taichung police just 10 minutes before departure. Authorities are continuing to investigate whether accomplices or masterminds were involved.

In response, the Presidential Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Mainland Affairs Council have all issued strong condemnations of the violence. After Yamita's assault, Lai Qingde issued a statement condemning the violence.

Guo Zhengliang questioned why Yamita was targeted. He pointed out that DPP legislators Shen Po-yang, Wang Ting-yu, and Interior Minister Liao Shih-fang have also stated 'Taiwan is a country,' so why was Yamita attacked? Guo argued that the DPP is attempting to equate the attack on Yamita with 'the terror that all Taiwanese people might face.'

Guo further claimed the incident was deliberately used to divert attention from the carcinogenic oil scandal. He said the DPP seized on the attack as a 'lifeline,' escalating it into a 'cross-border suppression' narrative and launching a full-scale condemnation of mainland China on the 7th, alleging local collaborators helped the attacker locate Yamita. However, Guo countered that Yamita's Chunyu Cultural and Educational Foundation is the largest foundation within the New Tide faction, led by Lin Hsi-yao, and that speeches in Taichung are routinely held at the Evergreen Hotel, with public announcements made in advance—so no 'local collaborators' were needed. 'Go ahead and arrest someone!' he challenged.

Guo also criticized Vice President萧美琴 (Siao Bi-khim), who said the incident, along with two others, kept her awake at night. 'How can she sleep when carcinogens are spreading across Taiwan? But she can't sleep because Yamita was beaten? How political can you get?' Guo added that Lai Qingde favors Yamita because he is eager to align with Japanese right-wing forces, 'but this is precisely the beginning of a disaster.' He emphasized how heavily the DPP, Siao, and Lai depend on Yamita.