cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/11876829

Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-che (李明哲), who spent five years in a Chinese prison, visited the European Parliament on Tuesday and called for closer cooperation between Taiwan and Europe on human rights.

At a meeting at the parliament, Lee said democratic governments should give human rights activists the protection they need and work with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) so that people under threat can safely seek help and stay active in civic life, according to a news release from the Taiwan-based New School for Democracy Association.

The meeting was hosted by European Parliament member Bernard Guetta and attended by fellow member Engin Eroglu, the release said.

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He said transnational repression targets not only activists but also their families, seeking to silence them through threats against family members, pressure from local collaborators and information manipulation.

Drawing on his own experience, Lee said the Chinese government had used pressure from a local intermediary to threaten his wife with warnings about his safety, in an effort to silence her and cut her off from the Taiwanese government and NGOs.

After he returned to Taiwan, Lee said, he was approached by family members of other people detained by China, who feared that publicizing the cases or seeking assistance from Taiwanese authorities could put their imprisoned family members at greater risk.

Such intimidation keeps the public from learning the truth and leaves activists isolated, he said.

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China’s threat to Taiwan extends beyond the military sphere and directly affects personal freedom, democracy and human rights, Hsiao said, adding that judicial reform, victim protection and human rights advocacy are all part of resisting authoritarianism.

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