Taiwanese Government

Taiwan and Mainland China share the same consanguinity, history, culture and language. Regarding Falun Gong, however, Taiwan’s constitution and law safeguard Falun Gong practitioners’ freedom of belief, and the Taiwanese people in general respect Falun Gong as a positive spiritual discipline. According to an in-comprehensive survey there are hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in Taiwan. The Taiwanese government has been one of the few executive branches to firmly speak out against the persecution of Falun Gong. Taiwan’s incumbent president, Ms. Tsai Ing-wen, as well as all former presidents, have expressed their support for Falun Gong. In the past 17 years, Taiwan Congress and more than 20 city and county councils have passed human rights resolutions brought forth by the Legislative Yuan in support of Falun Gong and calling for an end to the persecution. Between 2015 and 2017, there were 14 city/prefecture/county councils passing resolutions that supported Chinese citizens’ lawsuits against Jiang Zemin for persecuting Falun Gong and urged the Chinese authorities to stop organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. The following are some of the actions taken and statements made by Taiwanese government officials: Taiwan Congress Urges the Chinese Communist regime to stop Persecuting Falun Gong On Jun. 8, 2004, more than half of the 126 members of the Legislative Yuan (congressmen) passed a bipartisan resolution unanimously that the Taiwan government “should work through suitable channels immediately and urge Chinese authorities to release arrested and/or detained Falun Gong practitioners and stop suppression against Falun Gong.” It added that “(Chinese communist regime) utilized state-owned propaganda machines to defame Falun Gong and Mr. Li Hongzhi… inciting people’s hatred against Falun Gong purposely.” The resolution also mentioned lawmakers’ serious concerns that the persecution of Falun Gong had extended to the international society, including the seduction and detention of Taiwan’s citizens, the creation of a blacklist, and the offer of financial aid to foreign media in return for defaming Falun Gong. Taiwan Congress Refusing Entry of the Chinese Officials involved in persecution On Dec. 7, 2010, the Legislative Yuan unanimously passed a resolution urging the Taiwan government to thoroughly investigate all Chinese Communist Party officials that file applications for visiting Taiwan and those who are involved in human rights infringements, including the persecution of Falun Gong shall be denied entry. The resolution also mandated Taiwan’s central government that Taiwan officials, “should not invite, welcome or receive” such Chinese visitors so that Taiwan’s national policy of “Human Rights State” can be materially implemented and Taiwan’s international image of democracy and governance by law can be safeguarded. Taiwan Congress Rescuing Prisoners of Conscience On Dec. 11, 2012, the Legislative Yuan unanimously passed a resolution urging the Taiwan government to assist in the rescue of prisoners of conscience in China. It cited human rights reports issued by the U.S. and the United Nations stating that Falun Gong practitioners represent one of the largest persecuted groups in China today. The document also stated that the “Chinese authorities’ alleged organ harvesting from live Falun Gong practitioners and death-row inmates for profit is a truly shocking, intolerable and evil.” Taiwan Congress Release 16 Prisoners of Conscience On Nov. 12, 2013, the Legislative Yuan unanimously passed a resolution demanding the Taiwan government take actions and push Chinese authorities to release 16 prisoners of conscience, including Falun Gong practitioners Wang Zhiwen, Li Chang, and human rights lawyer Gao Zhicheng. Legislative Yuan Passes Resolution Condemning Hong Kong Government's Violent Deportations of Taiwanese Citizens (link)Olympics a Cover for China's Human Rights Abuses: TSU (link)Taiwanese Vice-President Lu Hsiu-Lien Condemns Communist Party’s Live Organ Harvesting (link)Taipei Times: Legislators Urge Investigation of Organ Harvesting from Falun Gong (link)10,000 people, Taiwanese Government Leaders Rally in Support of Genocide Lawsuit against Jiang Zemin (link)Taiwanese Lawyers Co-Sign Resolution Supporting Lawsuits against Jiang Zemin (link)Taipei Mayor-turned-president Ma Ying-jeou Blasts China Over Falun Gong Oppression (link)Transcript of Recorded Statement from Taiwan’s Vice President on Persecution Anniversary (link)Taiwanese President and Premier Congratulate the Taiwan 2001 Falun Dafa Conference (link)