TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ma Ying-jeou Foundation (馬英九基金會) issued a stark warning Thursday (March 13) about what it characterized as a dangerous regression in Taiwan's human rights protections, following President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) announcement to revise the "Military Trial Act" (軍事審判法).
The foundation's criticism comes in response to President Lai's stated intention to restore aspects of the military trial system, a move the president has framed as necessary to counter China's infiltration and espionage activities targeting Taiwan's armed forces. The proposed revisions would expand military jurisdiction over certain cases involving national security.
In a press release distributed through a media group, Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑), CEO of the foundation established by former President Ma Ying-jeou, expressed grave concern about the potential consequences of President Lai's policy direction. Hsiao specifically challenged Lai's characterization of China as a "foreign hostile force," warning that such rhetoric could damage cross-strait relations beyond repair.
The foundation's statement went further, suggesting that President Lai might be laying groundwork to codify an "anti-China" stance through legislation. Hsiao predicted that with a parliamentary majority, Lai's administration could eventually move to abolish the "Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area" (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), the primary legal framework governing Taiwan-China interactions.
Hsiao's criticism extended to what he described as disproportionate targeting of military personnel, civil servants, and Chinese spouses under the new security measures. He contrasted this approach with what he portrayed as lenient treatment of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋), whom Hsiao accused of violating the National Security Act (國家安全法) without facing consequences.
The foundation also raised constitutional concerns about government measures restricting religious groups' visits to China and imposing new requirements on civil servants. Such policies, according to Hsiao, risk infringing on fundamental constitutional rights and personal freedoms. His statement concluded with a call for public vigilance against what he characterized as a potential slide toward martial law or quasi-martial law conditions in Taiwan.
