Taiwan working to secure release of human rights advocate in China

Taipei--The Presidential Office said on Tuesday that the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and other government agencies are doing all they can to help secure the release of Lee Ming-che (???), a human rights and democracy advocate from Taiwan detained in China.

Lee, a former Democratic Progressive Party worker and now a staff member at Wenshan Community College in Taipei, went missing after entering China via Macao on March 19, a trip he took to help arrange medical treatment for his mother-in-law.

According to Cheng Hsiu-chuan (???), president of Wenshan Community College in Taipei, Lee is a "clear thinking" staff member with an interest in democracy and human rights issues. Lee often shared information online with friends in China about Taiwan's transition to democracy, Cheng said.

After Lee's wife, Lee Ching-yu (???), revealed on Tuesday that she had been informed her husband has been detained by the Chinese security authorities, the Presidential Office was asked if it had any new information on Lee's whereabouts.

"The information we should have, we have had all along," said Alex Huang (???), spokesman for the Presidential Office, adding that based on the division of duties, the MAC has been tasked with helping to secure Lee's release.

The MAC is Taiwan's top government agency in charge of implementing cross-strait policy. The Straits Exchange Foundation is the semi-official body authorized to handle day-to-day affairs between Taiwan and China.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel