Berlin: Taiwanese lawmaker Puma Shen, who has been listed as “wanted” by China for allegedly promoting Taiwan independence, spoke at a Berlin parliamentary hearing on Wednesday, addressing his efforts to combat disinformation. Shen was one of six experts invited to participate in a session organized by the Bundestag’s Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid, focusing on “Disinformation by Autocratic States Aiming to Undermine Democracy and Threaten Human Rights.”

According to Focus Taiwan, Shen explained to reporters that his invitation to the committee was due to his expertise in combating disinformation. During his address, he discussed the impact of China’s disinformation campaigns on Europe and Taiwan, as well as the dissemination of similar tactics by Russia and Hungary across Europe.

Shen expressed satisfaction with Europe’s growing awareness of disinformation and cognitive warfare while lamenting the lack of concern among some in Taiwan. A former associate professor at National Taipei University, Shen specializes in areas such as white-collar crime, disinformation campaigns, and financial crime. He is currently under investigation by China’s Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau for “secession-related” activities, including the establishment of a civil defense organization called Kuma Academy, as reported by China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency.

The investigation falls under China’s Criminal Law and the 2024 judicial guidelines for penalizing “Taiwan independence separatists.” On Sunday, a Chinese legal expert suggested on CCTV that Shen should be pursued through international judicial assistance agreements.

This statement has sparked public concern in Taiwan over the possibility of Shen’s arrest and extradition if he travels abroad. In a Facebook video posted on Tuesday, Shen dismissed China’s threats, asserting his commitment to defending democracy both in Taiwan and globally.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung assured on Thursday that Shen’s visit to Germany was safe, with the foreign ministry offering protection to all Taiwanese lawmakers during overseas trips. Lin emphasized the complexities involved in extradition, noting that it requires judicial cooperation and an extradition treaty with the host country, which would also need to review the request against its legal standards.

The Taiwan government believes China’s actions against Shen aim to project an illusion of “long-arm jurisdiction” over Taiwan, intending to create divisions and fear among its people.