speech

Absolute freedom of speech does not protect calls for Taiwan's
elimination.... that's according to President Lai Ching-te, who said Taiwan
is the target of psychological, media and legal warfare waged by the China
and increasingly blatant "gray zone" activities.

He points out 64 Taiwanese were prosecuted for spying for Beijing last year -
four times the number seen in 2021.

He added that these people were funded by China to threaten Taiwan's
democratic and free constitutional institutions.

Lai said the government would take action against those who would collude
with China and advocate a military invasion... the government would also move
against anyone who "threaten national security and exploit freedom and
diversity in Taiwan to create chaos."

Lai made the comments at an event marking the 36th anniversy of the death of
pro-democracy movement pioneer Nylon Cheng.

The memorial event took place at the Chin Pao San cemetery in New Taipei
where Cheng is laid to rest.

Cheng self-immolated on April 7, 1989 ... he faced arrest after being charged
with sedition over an article he had published in his magazine.

The government declared April 7 Freedom of Speech Day in 2016.