Two Taiwan-based Chinese dissidents seek asylum in the US (1st Lead)

Sep 10, 2008, 7:56 GMT

   Taipei - Two Chinese pro-democracy activists, unable to get sanctuary in Taiwan, on Wednesday entered the de facto US embassy in Taipei to seek political asylum in the United States.

   Cai Lujun, 40, and Wu Yalin, 49, jumped over the wall to gain entry into the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) compound Wednesday afternoon to apply for asylum from Washington.

   But they were soon arrested by security guards and taken to a police station for questioning.

   AIT representatives and officials from the Mainland Affairs Council, which handles Taiwan-China ties, were present during the police questioning of Cai and Wu.

   Speaking to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa by phone before the arrest, Cai said he and Wu were forced to illegally enter the AIT to seek asylum because the Taiwan government continues to refuse to grant them permanent residence.

   'We hope the US can grant us political asylum on humanitarian grounds,' he said on his cell phone.

   Cai said he and Wu, and three other Chinese pro-democracy activists who arrived in Taiwan four years ago, fled China to escape persecution.

   'But the Taiwan government has bound our hands and feet by denying us permanent residence and the right to work. The restriction is in fact the rejection of our request for asylum,' he said.

   The Mainland Affairs Council said it cannot grant them asylum because the parliament has not passed the Asylum Law yet.

   Taiwan said it is also trying to find a third country that is willing to accept the exiles, but the effort has been futile.

   But the five mainlanders said Taiwan's decree on Taiwan-China ties has a clause stating that Taipei can shelter Chinese pro-democracy activists on a case-by-case basis. That decree is still valid, even though Taiwan says it is outdated.

The dissidents said Taipei refuses to give them asylum for fear of hurting ties with China, which have improved since Prescient Ma Ying-jeou took office on May 20.