Strange Arrangement: China's Religious Exchanges with Taiwan's Temples
A deeper look at China's peculiar "united front" strategy
Rejection of Pilgrimage Trips Announced by Source
By Chen Yu-fu and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writer
China's bizarre move to host Taiwanese temple representatives for "religious exchanges" is causing quite a stir. Here's the lowdown on this peculiar phenomenon and why it's a cause for concern.
You'd think religious freedom would be a given, right? Well, not in China. Managed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), religion often serves as a tool for "united front" work against Taiwan. Now, these "religious exchanges" are being used as a pretext to scope out Taiwan, treating our nation like it's under their jurisdiction. That's a big no-no.
Recent events include China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) hosting ceremonies worshiping the Yan Emperor, a mythical figure considered an early ancestor of the Chinese. Lin Join-sane, a former Straits Exchange Foundation chairman and Chinese Nationalist Party member, was even invited to attend these ceremonies. Taiwanese temple representatives were also in attendance, helping to plant trees in a "cross-strait shared roots forest." This was a symbolic display promoting China's unification agenda, but not the friendly exchange it might seem.
China’s tactics don't stop there. Last month, they invited representatives of Taiwanese temples to visit Fujian Province and attend celebrations for the birthday of Matsu, the sea goddess. In an attempt to win over younger audiences, Chinese actress Liu Tao and Sun Yat-sen School president Chang Ya-chung were named as "Matsu ambassadors." Moreover, the "Chongqing-Taiwan Folk Culture Exchange" invited Taiwanese culture enthusiasts to visit temples in China, while China also arranged visits for Taiwanese relatives of Chinese citizens to a martyrs' cemetery in China.
But here's the kicker: 10 Chinese nationals were found to have attempted to take part in a pilgrimage disguised as an "ancestral temple pilgrimage" to Taiwan while applying for an "agricultural technology-related visit." Their temple, Fumei Temple, doesn't even hold pilgrimages in China. This seems like nothing more than a "united front" operation to deceive unsuspecting Taiwanese believers.
China's lack of religious freedom raises eyebrows when Taiwanese temple representatives engage in these so-called "religious exchanges." China's religious affairs bureau is under the United Front Work Department, which uses religion for political gain. Evidently, this includes Taiwanese adherents of the Yiguandao religious movement who have been detained and imprisoned in China.
Since January of last year, over 100 cases of Taiwanese citizens being questioned or detained due to their religious practices have been recorded. Given this, approaching travel to China requires caution, and it's essential to steer clear of the CCP's "united front" operations.
On A Deeper Note: Unraveling the Intricacies
China's invitations for religious exchanges primarily serve political objectives, including promoting unity and influencing Taiwanese society. However, these efforts raise concerns about national security, political polarization, and cultural identity within Taiwan.
Behind the Veil: China's Agenda
- Cultural and Symbolic Unity: China uses religious exchanges to symbolize and promote unity between Taiwan and China, highlighting the cultural and historical ties between the two sides.
- Political Influence: These exchanges are part of China's "united front" work, which involves influencing Taiwanese society through cultural and religious activities to support China's political agenda.
- Incentivization: China offers financial incentives to Taiwanese participants, such as covering most trip expenses, to encourage their participation.
Implications and Concerns
- National Security Threats: Taiwan views these exchanges as potential security threats, as they may be used as a vehicle for Chinese influence operations or intelligence gathering.
- Political Polarization: These exchanges can exacerbate political tensions within Taiwan, as some view them as attempts to undermine Taiwanese autonomy and identity.
- Cultural Alignment: While these exchanges may promote cultural exchange, they can also be seen as attempts to align Taiwanese cultural practices more closely with those in mainland China, potentially influencing Taiwanese identity.
- International Perception: The international community may perceive these exchanges as part of China's broader strategy to assert its influence over Taiwan, potentially affecting diplomatic relations and international support for Taiwan's sovereignty.
- The unease surrounding China's religious exchanges with Taiwan's temples extends beyond cultural affairs, as these events are also tied to policy-and-legislation and politics, raising concerns about national security, political polarization, and cultural identity within Taiwan.
- As the news of China's "united front" strategy unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and general-news are significantly intertwined with China's initiatives, as they strive to assert their influence over Taiwan and navigating the complexities of diplomacy.
