Taiwan denies entry to Rebiya Kadeer

• Source: Global Times
• [08:10 September 27 2009]
• Comments

By Liang Chen

Taiwanese authorities announced their refusal Saturday to issue a visa to Rebiya Kadeer, a separatist Beijing believes to be connected with East Turkistan terrorists, diffusing tensions across the Straits.

Taiwan residents were divided in their reaction to the decision.

Analysts said the move shows that Taiwan has "learned its lesson" after inviting the Dalai Lama into Taiwan and the screening a documentary about Kadeer earlier this month.

"If Rebiya wants to enter Taiwan regardless of the government's decision, we will send her back on the original plane in accordance with immigration laws," Hu Jing-fu, the deputy director of Taiwan's immigration agency, told reporters yesterday after the authority said it would deny her visitation rights.

A survey released Saturday by the United Daily News showed that 28 percent of 792 people polled supported the authorities' rejection of Kadeer's entry, while another 28 percent opposed the decision.

The remaining voters said they did not care one way or another.

On the same day, Wu Den-yih, the new head of Taiwan's "Executive Yuan," told reporters in the southern city of Kaohsiung that the authority decided not to allow her visit based on security concerns and public interest.

"I respect and support the decision," Wu said.

Wu said intelligence information shows that the World Uyghur Congress, headed by Kadeer, is "closely connected with East Turkistan forces," according to the Taiwan-based United Evening News.

East Turkistan groups are widely believed to be involved in extremist and terrorist activities.

Wu's statement came one day after Jiang Yi-huah, the internal affairs head of the Taiwan region, said Kadeer wouldn't be allowed "in consideration of Taiwan's interests."

The statements followed reports about Kadeer wanting to visit Taiwan later this year. She was invited by rock band vocalist Freddie Lin, an advocate for Taiwan independence.

Kadeer held a press conference in Washington Saturday to ask Taiwan to apologize for "accusing her of being a terrorist," which was later refused by Wu, according to the Taiwan-based Chinese News Agency.

Separatist forces in Taiwan have expressed their dissatisfaction with the government's decision, as Lin made a statement Friday that the resolution to invite her to Taiwan will never change.

The DPP also blasted Taiwan authorities, asking for a clear definition of what makes a terrorist.

An editorial by the pro-DPP Freedom Times criticized the authority's move and called Ma "a surrenderer to the Chinese mainland."

People in Taiwan responded positively to the authority's decision Saturday as "lots of Taiwan merchants are thrilled to learn about the news, and agree that is unworthy to sacrifice the development of Taiwan for a separatist," Ye Huide, the executive vice president of the Association of Taiwan Enterprises, told reporters, according to the Cross-Straits Metropolis Daily.

An editorial in the China Times, a Taiwan-based newspaper, approved the ban and accused the "separatist forces" in Taiwan of "intentionally increasing the tension across the Straits to achieve their own political aspirations."

A Wall Street Journal reported yesterday said that the relationship between Beijing and Taiwan "has improved significantly" since Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou took power last year.

Xiu Chunping, a professor of Taiwan studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "Ma shrugged off pressure of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party and made a wise decision that is in line with the mainstream public opinion."

"The mainland will stoutly boost the cross-Straits ties and never loosen its stance on fighting against the separatists in Taiwan and Tibet," Xiu said.

And Li Jiaquan, a senior researcher of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that Taiwan authorities don't want to further rock the boat.

Guo Qiang contributed to this story