Ethnic tensions and questions of identity were at the root of a shooting at a Taiwanese church in southern California that left one dead and five injured. That’s according to a joint statement by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and the Taiwan Association of University Professors. The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan is affiliated with the targeted congregation in California. American authorities say the shooting may be a politically motivated hate crime.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the church condemned all forms of violence. It says that the shooting was an extension of existing conflicts over identity in Taiwan, and that ethnic tensions must be taken seriously.
The suspected shooter, David Chou, was born in Taiwan to parents who had fled China after 1949. According to reports, he had previously been a member of the National Association for China’s Peaceful Reunification (NACPU). The group calls for the unification of Taiwan and China, and has ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
The target of Chou’s attack is also significant. The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan has been historically connected to the pro-independence movement. Notes found in Chou’s car showed that he was motivated by his hatred for the Taiwanese independence movement. This points to him being motivated by his connection to Chinese national identity, and his anger towards changes in Taiwanese society.
The church says that to relieve the tensions that motivated Chou, Taiwan must write a new constitution in line with its current reality.
Also speaking at the press conference, the Taiwan Association of University Professors says the government should prevent NACPU members from entering the country. It calls on the government to investigate ties between unification forces in Taiwan and the Chinese government.