Liberty Times published a report today titled “Li Ming-che Case Breaks Ma Administration’s Broker Model,” with the subtitle “International Pressure Forces Mainland China to Contact the Taiwan Government.” Such a grand title was pointed out by netizen W.H. Shih as being utter nonsense from the start—a standard self-consoling brainwashing article.
🤝 Zhong Dingbang Case: Official Mechanisms of the Ma Era
W.H. Shih pointed out that when Zhong Dingbang was detained by mainland China during the Ma administration, the two sides handled it through official government-to-government mechanisms.
At that time, the details of the rescue efforts were not fully disclosed to the press to protect the interests of the individual involved. This led to pro-Green media questioning why the government wasn’t actively negotiating. In reality, the MAC could have easily made a show of being “heroic” regardless of the individual’s safety, but the government prioritized Zhong’s safety and safe return above all else. They insisted on the rescue first, even at the cost of being criticized by the media.
The facts proved them right: Zhong Dingbang was released and returned to Taiwan two days later.
🇺🇸 Li Ming-che Case: High-Profile Condemnation and International Appeals
In contrast, the current Li Ming-che case has seen high-profile condemnations from both Li’s wife and government units. Instead of following existing cross-strait communication models, they ran off to hold a press conference in the US. This has led many to question whether the Tsai government actually has the ability to handle the situation or if they are simply using it for political theater.
Relying on international pressure like a “mama’s boy” rather than pragmatic rescue efforts is a regression in diplomatic capability. The comparison shows that the Ma administration’s “official mechanism” was far more effective than the current administration’s “shouting model.”