Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

People lay flowers yesterday during a memorial service for victims of the 228 Massacre at the National 228 Memorial Museum in Taipei. The service was organized by Taiwan 228 Incident Care Association and the Memorial Foundation of 228.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times

Taiwan 228 Incident Care Association director-general Pan Hsin-hsing (潘信行) yesterday called for the establishment of a privately run transitional justice promotion committee to monitor the state-run nine-member transitional justice promotion committee, which could begin operations this month.

Beijing was not happy about Premier William Lai (賴清德) reiterating his support for Taiwanese independence at the legislature on Friday last week. The state-run Global Times published an editorial lambasting Lai for his “presumptuous” words. It also suggested the Chinese government consider initiating a new avenue of attack against Taiwanese independence advocates.

Taiwanese commentators have criticized what they feel is the excessive nature of this suggested approach, and of its implications for free speech and sovereignty. However, what is also interesting is the editorial’s frank description of the context of Beijing’s “united front” strategy.