Statement by the Lee Ming-che Rescue Team: Urging the Chinese Government to Allow Lee Ming-che to Return to Taiwan to Attend His Father's Funeral
Last edited: 2026-07-27
Li Ching-yu has submitted official requests to the Mainland Affairs Council and the Straits Exchange Foundation, asking our government to urge the Chinese government to permit Lee Ming-che to return to Taiwan to attend his father's funeral. The Straits Exchange Foundation also issued a formal request to the Chinese government a few days ago, but has yet to receive any response. The "Lee Ming-che Rescue Team," composed of dozens of NGOs including the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, the Covenants Watch, the Judicial Reform Foundation, and the Wenshan Community College, hereby issues this statement: As an only son, returning to Taiwan to attend his father's funeral and handle his final arrangements is a matter of basic human decency and humanitarian concern. Such humanitarian accommodations are frequently granted in Taiwanese prisons. In China, inmates at Yancheng Prison and figures such as Liu Xiaobo have also been granted permission to attend funerals.
Rule 70 of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) also provides relevant recommendations. We urge the Chinese government to approve Lee Ming-che's return to Taiwan for the funeral. At the same time, we reiterate that the family's right to monthly visitation must not be deprived. We call upon the Chinese government to ensure Li Ching-yu and Ming-che's mother's right to visit Chishan Prison during this trip, and to guarantee that the personal safety and freedom of both family members remain free from any infringement. Finally, we reiterate that the online statements Lee Ming-che published in Taiwan do not constitute a criminal offense, and the Chinese government should release Lee Ming-che immediately.
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This article is an AI-generated translation of the original Chinese text. In the event of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.