MOFA CONFIRMS EXCHANGING VIEWS WITH AIT OVER LEE MING-CHE'S DETENTION|李明哲案 外交部證實與AIT交換意見

Former DPP staffer Lee Ming-cheh has been detained by Chinese authorities for over 20 days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it has "exchanged views" with the AIT and said the US is taking the matter very seriously. MOFA emphasized it will explore all possible diplomatic channels to free the activist. Former DPP staffer Lee Ming-che has now been detained in China for over 20 days. His wife, Lee Ching-yu, has criticized the KMT in a statement for being compradors of Beijing in Taiwan, while a chagrined KMT said that Lee Ching-yu was smearing the party. In another newer statement, Lee Ching-yu said that humane treatment means not forcing someone to live dishonorably, and that politics is not about giving in. Her statements have attracted controversy. Meanwhile, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the US was also taking the affair very seriously, and that the Ministry has exchanged views on the affair with the American Institute in Taiwan. ==CHRISTINE M.Y. HSUEH Dir. Gen., Dept. of North American Affairs, MOFA== Regarding this matter, we have exchanged views with the people at AIT. As this has become a news story, and has stretched out over more than a few days, I am sure that the US administration, as well as our friends in Congress, are all quite cognizant of the affair. Hsueh emphasized that, though MOFA is not the agency primarily responsible, it will do anything it can to assist with freeing Lee. As China's Taiwan Affairs Office remains unyielding, the Mainland Affairs Council once again called on China to stop dodging the issue. ==CHIU CHUI-CHENG Deputy Minister, MAC== Our doors for communication and negotiation have always been open. Mainland China should understand that maintaining the peaceful and stable development of cross-strait ties and the welfare of the general public is a responsibility shared by both sides. We hope that the Mainland side can think pragmatically and respond positively, so that we can work together to maintain the existing communication mechanisms between the two sides. Do not engage in more meaningless talk. The MAC also said that many groups in and out of Taiwan are concerned about the Lee Ming-che case. The government's position is that all factors should be considered and the focus should be on taking things in a positive direction. TRANSLATED BY：JOHN CHEN 前民進黨黨工李明哲遭到中國關押20幾天，外交部北美司證實，外交部曾就此案，與美國在台協會交換過意見，美方也很關注這件事情發展，同時強調，只要有助於營救李明哲，外交部都會配合辦理。 遭到中國關押的前民進黨黨工李明哲，至今已經20多天，李明哲的妻子李凈瑜前一天的聲明中，批評國民黨在台灣當圍事，引發國民黨不滿，認為李凈瑜是在抹黑，對此，李凈瑜再度發表聲明指出，人道、不是苟活。政治，不是屈服。讓李明哲案陷入膠著，再起爭端！另一方面，外交部表示，美方也很關注這件事情的發展，曾就這起案件，與美國在台協會交換過意見。 ==外交部北美司司長 薛美瑜== 就這個案子其實跟 AIT這邊大家有些交換意見 因為這是一個新聞事件 也不是說才發生一兩天 所以我相信不管是美方的行政部門 或是國會上面的朋友 其實大家對這個案子 都有相當的了解 薛美瑜強調，外交部雖然不是主政單位，但是只要有助於營救李明哲，都會配合辦理，而對於國台辦的態度仍然強硬，陸委會再度呼籲中國，正面回應。 ==陸委會副主委 邱垂正== 我們溝通協商的大門 始終是敞開的 中國大陸應該明白 維護兩岸關係和平穩定發展 及民眾的福祉是雙方共同的責任 希望陸方務實體會正向回應 致力維護兩岸既有的 溝通聯繫機制 不要再做無意(義)的口舌之爭 同時陸委會也表示，關心李明哲案的國內外團體不少，政府的立場，是綜合各種因素，做最正面的思考。 記者 台北綜合報導