Analysts outside China denounce Lee’s Trial as ‘a farce’ or ‘another show trial’
A court in China’s southern Hunan province Monday put Taiwanese rights activist Lee Ming-che, alongside a Chinese national Peng Yuhua, on trial, in which both pleaded guilty to charges of inciting state subversion.
But analysts outside China denounced it as “a farce” or “another show trial, ” saying Hunan’s court hearing has highlighted nothing but a huge discrepancy in the level of democratization and rule of law between Taiwan and China.
They demanded Chinese authorities to immediately set Lee free while the Chinese court wrapped up its four-hour-long hearing on Monday by announcing it would reach a verdict on a later date.
Open trial?
According to video clips posted on the court’s official Weibo account for public viewing, prosecutors in the city of Yueyang accused Peng and Lee of having organized discussion groups on social media platforms including QQ, Wechat and Facebook since 2012 to advocate for a democratic multi-party system and free elections in China in a bid to attempt to oust the ruling Communist Party.
Prosecutors argued both have violated Criminal Law Article 105, under which they may be subject to a sentence of three to 10 years or more than 10 years if they are concluded to be the principle culprit behind the subversion scheme.
Peng, 37, was said to be the main initiator, who established the group and organized private gatherings to discuss the political pursuit for a multi-party system, while Lee, 42, worked as a manager in charge of personnel training.
Prosecutors described Lee’s comments online as highly critical of the Chinese government and its socialist political regime while endorsing Western political and democratic values.
Forced confession?
In response to the prosecutors’ accusations, both Peng and Lee openly pleaded guilty and showed remorse in court.
Peng said he regretted his past ignorance.
