Background on Both Officials
Wang Yi, a native of Beijing and career diplomat for the People’s Republic of China, graduated from Beijing Second Foreign Language Institute with a degree in Japanese and holds a master’s degree in economics from Nankai University. He currently serves as China’s Foreign Minister and has previously served as China’s Ambassador to Japan and Deputy Foreign Minister.
Ku Li-hsiung, a native of Taipei, second-generation mainlander from Shanghai, Democratic Progressive Party member, and well-known Taiwan lawyer and death penalty abolition advocate, recently stepped down from the Legislative Yuan to assume the DPP-promoted position of Chairman of the Illicit Party Assets Disposition Committee.
Wang Yi’s Forceful Response
On June 1, 2016, Wang Yi responded to a visiting journalist as follows:
“I suggest you not ask questions with such an irresponsible attitude. Your questions are full of prejudice against China and an arrogance from who knows where, which I absolutely cannot accept. Do you understand China? Have you been to China? Do you know that China has lifted over 600 million people out of poverty from a state of extreme poverty? Do you know that China has already become the world’s second-largest economy with a per capita GDP of $8,000? If we couldn’t protect human rights well, could China achieve such great development? Do you know that China has already incorporated human rights protection into our Constitution? I must tell you—the people who understand China’s human rights situation best are not you! It is the Chinese people themselves! You have no right to speak on this—China does! So please stop asking such irresponsible questions. China welcomes all constructive suggestions, but we reject any baseless accusations.”
Ku Li-hsiung’s Angry Response
On August 31, 2016—which was also President Tsai Ing-wen’s birthday—Ku Li-hsiung responded sharply to a reporter asking him a straightforward question:
“Did you read Article 21 again? What is it about—criminal records or something else? Can you recite the regulations for me? Including whether someone has been convicted and sentenced? Is that what the regulations say? Then without the regulations, isn’t your question rather impolite? Now let me ask you—do the regulations say that if someone was sentenced over a copyright case 11 years ago, they cannot serve as a committee member or must resign? Do they? Do you have the regulations? Do they? I believe that a copyright dispute from 11 years ago doesn’t constitute grounds for unsuitability as a committee member. Is that clear? I’ve answered this question I don’t know how many times now.”
Later, Ku Li-hsiung said to another reporter:
“You just said I got angry and therefore couldn’t maintain independence—what’s the connection between the two? Can you explain? You’re just concerned, well thank you for your concern, okay? (When will you quit the DPP or stop exercising party power?) What do you mean? I don’t understand.”
The Real Issue
Looking at Ku Li-hsiung’s angry responses to young reporters, one begins to wonder: who is the one actually acting like they live in a democracy that supposedly cherishes human rights most—Wang Yi or Ku Li-hsiung?
Strictly speaking, the two young reporters at today’s press conference were so overwhelmed by Big Lawyer Ku’s questioning that they had no comeback. This simply reflects that the reporters themselves lacked training and preparation.
Regarding Ku’s first counterattack: the reporters needed only to ask: “Then do you think it’s appropriate to invite someone who has committed crimes and even served prison time to hold such a powerful judicial position?” But the young reporters were intimidated and fumbled their opportunity.
Similarly, the second reporter only needed to ask: “So Ku Li-hsiung, you admit you got angry just now—do you think someone with such an impulsive temperament has the qualifications and ability to impartially handle the complex party assets issue?” But instead that reporter just tried to smooth things over.
You reporters still have a long way to go compared to Big Lawyer Ku.
I’d like to ask President Tsai Ing-wen: In the image of Taiwan that floats in your mind, is it one of humility, humility, and more humility—or is a new era of green terror about to begin?