Press Release | Immediately Establish Protective Response Mechanisms to Address Transnational Repression in Taiwan | Preventing Transnational Repression: Establishing Protection Mechanisms Immediately Press Conference
Last edited: 2026-08-24
Recently, the Taiwanese government expressed concern over the red paint attack on the Muay Thai studio of Tang Wei-hsiung (alias "Fu Tang"), a Hong Kong activist in Taiwan and participant in the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement. However, civil society groups pointed out that such intimidation tactics intended to create a chilling effect are rapidly increasing, demonstrating an urgent need for Taiwan to establish human rights-based and survivor-centred reporting and response mechanisms to counter transnational repression by foreign governments or their proxies.
Fu Tang: Threats Have Invaded Personal Life; Proxies Serving as "Disposable Chopsticks" Should Not Be the Only Targets of Punishment
Fu Tang pointed out that physical attacks have far exceeded the scope of harassment seen in past demonstrations: "In the past, harassment against us was limited to public events; today, such threats have openly crossed boundaries and fully invaded our personal lives. This fear is not confined to Taiwan; it is a global spread—countless Hong Kong brothers and sisters in exile are suffering from cross-border crimes and intimidation that reach everywhere."
Furthermore, he emphasized that Taiwan cannot merely deal with superficial proxies. "If we continue to condone this, the force destroying things will not just be the personal safety of individual advocates, but will fundamentally erode the foundations of the rule of law and the democratic system we are so proud of."
Transnational Repression Creates a Chilling Effect Infringing Upon the Human Rights of Exiled Communities in Taiwan
Everyone should be able to freely exercise their rights without fear that their personal words and actions will face retaliation for criticizing a regime. Although there is yet no uniform definition in the legal systems of various countries, according to civil groups and international human rights organizations, "transnational repression" refers to actions by governments to silence critics abroad through intimidation, surveillance, threats, abuse of legal processes, or physical attacks. The report published by Amnesty International in 2024 titled *"I Feel Like I'm on Campus": Transnational Repression of Students in Taiwan* also pointed out that transnational repression has become one of the primary means for authoritarian governments to violate the human rights of individuals overseas.
In other words, this phenomenon not only causes fear and threats to the personal freedom and safety of exiled Hongkongers, Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other displaced persons, but may also create a chilling effect on these communities and society as a whole. Even civil society organizations, journalists reporting on issues of those countries from abroad, and individuals concerned with human rights issues may be affected because they dare not fully exercise their freedom of expression or the right to peaceful assembly.
Taipei Boxing Gym Vandalized Following Fu Tang Being Wanted; Case Highlights Institutional Gaps
In November 2025, Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption issued a wanted notice for Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill activist Tang Wei-hsiung ("Fu Tang"), accusing him of violating the Elections Ordinance on the grounds that he was alleged to have called for a boycott of the upcoming Legislative Council election. A few days later, his boxing gym located in Taipei was attacked with red paint, and surrounding surveillance cameras were also severed. After Fu Tang reported the incident to the Taipei police, the police identified two suspects holding Hong Kong passports who returned to Hong Kong immediately after the incident; according to reports, two Taiwanese suspects have also been identified. The case has entered judicial proceedings, and relevant units are conducting investigations.
According to the latest updates, on February 4, 2026—just one day before the press conference held by civil groups—Fu Tang's Muay Thai studio was once again splashed with paint. Such behavior not only threatens individual safety, but also creates a severe chilling effect on the entire community in Taiwan, and may further deter others from freely expressing their opinions or participating in social actions.
Taiwan Lacks Institutional Response to Transnational Repression; Civil Groups Put Forward Four Demands
In Taiwan, there are currently no dedicated legal countermeasures, victim reporting mechanisms, risk reduction measures, or corresponding protection and support systems specifically addressing transnational repression. Fu Tang's case reminds us that it is necessary for the Taiwanese government to establish a systematic legal framework and supporting policies. The government should ensure that the issue of transnational repression is examined not merely from a national security perspective, but from a human rights perspective, in order to effectively protect potential victims from being harmed by such repressive actions.
In this regard, the groups attending the press conference jointly called on the government to:
- Establish a reporting and tracking mechanism for "transnational repression" and regularly publish statistics on transnational repression cases;
- Strengthen cross-ministerial collaboration, and establish remedies for "transnational repression" along with human rights-centered support and protection measures;
- Publicly condemn human rights violations involving transnational repression; and
- Raise awareness among government departments and civil society regarding transnational repression as a human rights violation.
Given the increasing prevalence of transnational repression, the government should take necessary measures through the establishment of legal systems and policy planning to safeguard the rights of everyone in Taiwan—especially the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful association, and assembly, which are severely impacted—so that people no longer fear retaliation for bravely speaking out. At the same time, the government should pursue the legal responsibilities of perpetrators and accomplices, holding them accountable and imposing legal sanctions for such conduct.
Full Statement by Attorney Chen Yen-huan, Deputy Convener of the International Division of the Judicial Reform Foundation:
Regarding the "Fu Tang incident," the Judicial Reform Foundation puts forward the following two perspectives:
First, regarding the legal aspects of the case itself.
Since this case is still in the investigative stage, it is neither appropriate nor possible for us to make in-depth comments on the specific details of the case. However, judging from current news reports and official statements from the Mainland Affairs Council, this case has been characterized as involving "transnational repression."
It must be pointed out that "transnational repression" is currently not a formal legal term in our country's laws. In practice, prosecutors and police can only handle crimes during criminal investigation and prosecution under existing chapters of the Criminal Code such as offenses against personal freedom, and cannot directly address this type of criminal conduct using special legislation.
This also highlights a more fundamental issue: when facing such acts of intimidation and interference directed against Hongkongers, Tibetans, or exiled communities in Taiwan by foreign regimes and their proxies, have our country's current legal tools responded adequately, and is the protection afforded to them sufficient? Is there a necessity to review and amend relevant legal systems such as the Anti-Infiltration Act and the National Security Act, or to deliberate on enacting a foreign agent registration act to more comprehensively respond to China's transnational repression?
In this regard, the JRF believes that relevant government departments have a responsibility to confront this issue and initiate concrete legal deliberations and discussions on amendments.
Second, regarding the government's perspective in responding to transnational repression.
Currently, we observe that government departments such as the Mainland Affairs Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mostly respond to the issue of transnational repression from the perspective of "national security." The JRF believes that in addition to the national security perspective, China's transnational repression and sovereignty interference must also—and perhaps more centrally—be examined from "human rights standards."
Taking Fu Tang's case as an example, China has long planned, directed, and implemented various systematic suppression actions targeting diaspora or exiled communities such as Hongkongers and Tibetans in Taiwan through state organs or their proxies. These include restricting their freedom of expression, compressing their space for social participation, and creating a chilling effect through intimidation and silencing.
Among these, the most common tactics involve instructing personnel to cross borders or national boundaries to carry out harassment and intelligence gathering, or even directly violating their basic rights. For such situations, the JRF advocates that the government should at least actively consider the following principles:
First, establish clear legal definitions and a comprehensive regulatory framework for China's transnational repression against Hongkongers, Tibetans, and other exiled communities in Taiwan.
Second, comprehensively enhance the sensitivity and identification capabilities of various government departments regarding transnational repression and sovereignty interference.
Third, establish a centralized, cross-ministerial reporting and monitoring mechanism for related cases.
Fourth, hold relevant states and individuals legally accountable according to law.
Fifth, provide necessary and substantial protection and support measures for those subjected to suppression.
Sixth, actively cooperate with other democracies to jointly prevent China's transnational repression and human rights violations against Hongkongers, Tibetans, and exiled communities in Taiwan.
The JRF emphasizes that transnational repression is not merely a national security issue, but a severe human rights violation. Only by centering on freedom, democracy, and human rights can Taiwan truly become a safe harbor for the oppressed, rather than an arena where Chinese authoritarian forces can reach out to intimidate.
Press Conference Time
Thursday, February 5, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Press Conference Location
Chungh Hall, Legislative Yuan (No. 1, Sec. 1, Jinan Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City)
Press Conference Agenda
| Time | Content | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 – 10:05 |
Opening Remarks | Fung Tsz-ting, Secretary-General of Hong Kong Outlanders |
| 10:05 – 10:45 |
Explanation by Case Subject Fu Tang | Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement Activist Tang Wei-hsiung (Fu Tang) |
| Explanation of State Response Plan to Transnational Repression | Legislator Chen Chao-tzu
Legislator Chen Pei-yu |
|
| Explanation and Demands Regarding Transnational Repression Cases by International and Taiwanese Human Rights Organizations | Fung Tsz-ting, Secretary-General of Hong Kong Outlanders
Tashi Tsetan, Secretary-General of Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan
Chou Kuan-ju, Deputy Secretary-General of Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Chang Fu, Deputy Secretary-General of Amnesty International Taiwan
Kao Yu-yung, Researcher at Economic Democracy Union |
|
| 10:45 – 11:00 |
Q&A |
Jointly Declaring Organizations
Amnesty International Taiwan
Hong Kong Outlanders
Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Economic Democracy Union
Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan
Judicial Reform Foundation
Press Contacts
Mido, Design and Advocacy Specialist, Judicial Reform Foundation
mido@jrf.org.tw
(02)25231178 #29
This article is an AI-generated translation of the original Chinese text. In the event of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.