Searching for Li Ming-che: Joint Press Conference by Family Members and Civil Society Organizations

Press Conference Video / Covenants Watch

Mr. Li Ming-che, a program manager at Wenshan Community College, took an EVA Air flight from Taipei to Macau on the morning of March 19, entered China from Macau, and subsequently lost contact, remaining unlocatable to this day. For a long time, Li Ming-che has shared Taiwan's democratic experiences with civil society figures in China via the internet and frequently mailed books to friends in China. Community colleges in Taiwan frequently engage in exchanges with Chinese civil society, even facilitating the establishment of community colleges in various Chinese provinces. The experiences Li shared and exchanged were entirely legal and positive, exerting a favorable influence on China's democratization. However, a Taiwanese citizen who legally entered China has disappeared for five days without any reason and remains untraceable.

Li Ming-che's wife stated that she has known Li since their college days, describing him as someone who cares about public affairs, human rights, and labor rights. China is a modern country, and it is unreasonable for a Taiwanese citizen to disappear in China without any reason for more than five days. She hopes the Chinese government can help her find Li Ming-che, saying, "If Li Ming-che has been arrested, please also tell me the charges." She also hopes the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) will make every effort to assist in the search, expressing her trust in the SEF's operational capabilities. If he has truly been arrested, she is willing to accept it calmly, but please tell her whether her husband is dead or alive, and where he is located.

Wenshan Community College Principal Cheng Hsiu-chuan stated that Li Ming-che is an employee of Wenshan Community College responsible for curriculum planning. He has long focused on democratic issues, possessing clear and powerful ideas, and believes community colleges are good bases for rooting and implementing democratic education. Before going abroad, Ming-che even wanted to hold a series of lectures titled "Thinking About Taiwan's Future." He would share Taiwan's democratic transition experiences with Chinese friends online; such activities are not new within community colleges or NGOs. Because community colleges aspire to be a force for social progress, democracy and human rights are universal values. "We hope that the cross-strait governments can help locate Ming-che, and we hope our colleague Li Ming-che can return as soon as possible to continue fighting for a progressive society."

Chiu I-ling, Secretary-General of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights and Executive Committee Member of Covenants Watch, stated that this is the first case of a Taiwanese NGO worker disappearing after entering China. If the cross-strait governments fail to handle this cautiously, it will create a chilling effect. Because China has thus far failed to clarify Mr. Li Ming-che's whereabouts and has denied his arrest, the family members cannot even follow the Cross-Strait Cross-Border Judicial Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement to request a lawyer visit or contact the family. Given that incidents of "enforced disappearance" have repeatedly occurred in China—ranging from the 2015 crackdown on Chinese human rights lawyers to the Causeway Bay Books incident in Hong Kong—Taiwanese NGO workers truly cannot believe the Chinese government's unilateral claim of "no arrest." China should disclose all video footage of Li Ming-che entering China from Macau to prove that no arrest took place.

Kao Jung-chih, Attorney and CEO of the Judicial Reform Foundation, also stated that this is no longer a legal issue, but a political one, which the cross-strait governments should actively resolve. In addition to calling on China to step forward and provide an explanation, the Taiwanese government should also express a clear attitude and opinion on this matter. The repeated disappearances of Taiwanese citizens in China do not bode well for cross-strait interactions and exchanges, and it will be difficult for China to prove to the world that it is a nation governed by the rule of law.

Attachment

Family Statement - Li Ming-che's Wife, Li Ching-yu

Attendees

Moderator Chiu I-ling, Secretary-General of Taiwan Association for Human Rights

Speakers
Li Ming-che's Wife
Huang Hui-chun, Human Rights History Researcher
Cheng Hsiu-chuan, Principal of Taipei Wenshan Community College
Yang Chih-pin, Secretary-General of National Association for Community Education
Kao Jung-chih, CEO of Judicial Reform Foundation
Chen Kuan-yu, Secretary-General of Economic Democracy Union
Lin Yu-hsuan, Secretary of Humane Education Foundation

Co-organizers

National Association for Community Education
Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Covenants Watch
Economic Democracy Union
Judicial Reform Foundation
Taiwan Association for China Human Rights

Press Contacts

Cheng Hsiu-chuan, Principal of Wenshan Community College
Chiu I-ling, Secretary-General of Taiwan Association for Human Rights