Zhang Yazhong, the principal of Sunwen School. Photo: Zhang Liangyi/Photo (file photo)
The “Taiwan church shooting” occurred in Southern California on the 15th, resulting in the tragedy of one Taiwanese bridge citizen killed and five injured. The shooter, Zhou Wenwei, was accused of not agreeing that “Taiwan is a country independent of China” and was accused of being a Chinese United Front Organization. “China Peaceful Reunification Promotion Association” Taiwanese cadres involved in cross-strait hate crimes. The Kuomintang tweeted, expressing “shocked and deeply saddened” in English, while Zhang Yazhong, the principal of the Sun Wen School with a clear stance, wrote on Facebook in both Chinese and English: “May forgiveness mend the anger, and understanding fill the gap.”
Zhou Wenwei, a Taiwanese immigrant who was born in Taiwan in 1953, entered the Taiwan Presbyterian Church in Irvine District with a pistol on his hand on the 15th, and immediately locked three doors. 3 shots were fired on the spot, and 5 other people were also injured by gunshots. It was not until Zhou Wenwei finished playing the magazine that everyone threw chairs at him while he was changing the magazine, and rushed up to suppress him to the ground. A US police investigation found that Zhou Wenwei was “dissatisfied with the political tension between China and Taiwan”, triggering the murder.
According to the Chinese media “China Review”, Gu Yawen, president of the Las Vegas China Peaceful Reunification Promotion Association, admitted today (17): “We welcome anyone who supports the peaceful reunification of China, including Zhou Wenwei, of course, to participate in our activities, so we I gave him a chance to speak.” But he also cut off his relationship with Zhou Wenwei, clarified that Zhou Wenwei would not be a member of the CPPCC in the second half of 2019, and strongly condemned Zhou Wenwei’s illegal behavior.
Zhang Yazhong, who was previously labeled “Jitong” by Kuomintang Chairman Zhu Lilun, posted his condolences in both Chinese and English on Facebook: “My condolences to the tragic victims of the shooting of Taiwanese folks in California. My condolences to the deceased, and to the living and the dead. My condolences to my family and friends. We condemn all violence and will not tolerate any tragedy in God’s place. Pray for forgiveness to calm anger and to resolve differences through communication”.
Zhang Yazhong also wrote a letter to Shixin.com, stressing: “The shooting at the church in Southern California is a tragedy that should never have happened, nor should it be allowed to happen. We express our condolences to the deceased, and ask for your condolences to the living and the families and friends of the deceased. We Condemn all violence, and oppose all vile acts of all forms of violence in the name of ideology, independence, or ethnicity. We cannot condone, nor tolerate any tragedy that occurs in the place of God.”
Zhang Yazhong said: “Taiwan is a society that advocates great love, warmth, and compassion. We hope that overseas friends will not regard differences between their families as fire and water, and do not regard the disturbances in their hometowns as enemies. We look forward to overseas Chinese compatriots to join us. Treat each other as family. The law must punish the perpetrators severely. May God forgive the ignorant, may God bring anger back to peace. We pray that all differences will be resolved through communication, and all disturbances will be united through love for each other.”
The KMT tweeted in English: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the senseless church shooting. Fortunately, several Taiwanese congregants were uniformed and disarmed. And tied up the shooter. These heroes not only saved lives with their actions, they showed the world what Taiwanese are made of!”
