Veteran journalist and Taipei-based Indo-Pacific Strategic Think Tank Executive Director Akio Yaita was attacked on Monday morning, July 6, after being invited to give a speech in Taichung, central Taiwan.
An unidentified man dressed in black followed the Japanese-born journalist after the event and punched him in the face. Yaita was taken to hospital for treatment and later reported the incident to police.
At approximately 4:00 p.m., police intercepted and arrested a Chinese national surnamed Liao, who was allegedly attempting to flee Taiwan through Taichung International Airport, according to the Taipei Times.
Akio Yaita attacked after speech in Taichung
According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA), Yaita had been invited as a speaker at the “NEXT CITY – Spring Rain Revitalization Action Camp: Moving Toward a New Taichung” event, organized by the Spring Rain Education Foundation at the Tempus Hotel Taichung.
After finishing his speech around noon and leaving the venue, Yaita was followed by a man dressed in black, who suddenly punched him in the face before fleeing the scene. Accompanied by event staff, Yaita sought medical treatment and then filed a police report.
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The Sixth Precinct of the Taichung City Police Department immediately formed a special investigative task force. Officers reviewed surveillance footage from the hotel and surrounding areas, identified characteristics of the suspect, and referred the case to prosecutors at the Taichung District Prosecutors Office, who are overseeing the investigation.
Violence should never be used to silence speech
Speaking to reporters outside the police station, Yaita said he had been talking on the phone in the hotel lobby when a man dressed in black approached him and said something he could not understand before suddenly punching him in the face.
The attack split his lip and caused heavy bleeding. The suspect then calmly walked away from the scene.
Yaita said hotel staff later told him the same man had been seen in the area both the previous day and the day of the attack, suggesting he had been deliberately targeting him rather than mistaking him for someone else.
Although Yaita said he did not know the attacker’s motive, he emphasized that violence should never be used under any circumstances. He said that even if his public comments had angered certain individuals, physical attacks could never be justified as a response to speech.
Yaita said he could not rule out the possibility that the assault was connected to his previous public remarks. While he would take additional precautions for his safety, he stressed that he would not change his views or the work he does.
He called for a thorough investigation, warning that leaving the case unresolved would create fear in Taiwanese society and undermine freedom of expression.
The Spring Rain Education Foundation said staff immediately accompanied Yaita to Lin Shin Hospital for treatment and assisted him in filing a police report.
Foundation chairman Shih Chih-chang, who also serves as a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taichung city councilor, condemned the attack, saying that attempting to silence someone through violence represents a serious challenge to democracy and freedom.
The foundation said it would cooperate fully with authorities and provide surveillance footage from the hotel and surrounding areas. Shih urged police to quickly identify whether others were involved, determine the motive, and prosecute all responsible parties.
Chinese suspect arrested while allegedly attempting to flee Taiwan
According to the latest report by Liberty Times, police quickly identified the suspect and tracked his movements after receiving the report.
Acting under the direction of prosecutors from the Taichung District Prosecutors Office, officers arrested a 33-year-old Chinese national surnamed Liao at approximately 4:00 p.m. the same day.
Authorities said Liao allegedly attempted to leave Taiwan by boarding a flight from Taichung International Airport (Ching Chuan Kang Airport) to Busan, South Korea. Police intercepted him at the airport before he could depart.
Investigators are continuing to examine his motive, whether the attack was premeditated, and whether any other individuals were involved or directed the assault.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed Liao following Yaita closely after he exited the hotel lobby. After only a few seconds, he allegedly approached Yaita, appeared to shout at him, and then punched him in the face before walking away.
Yaita was left with a split lip and bleeding from his mouth.
At the event venue, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Ho Hsin-chun said she was shocked and saddened by the attack. She said she had contacted Yaita to express concern and wish him a speedy recovery, while urging police to quickly clarify the circumstances and reassure the public.
Ho strongly condemned the assault, saying such violence should never occur in Taichung.
With the suspect now in custody, police will continue investigating the motive behind the attack, the suspect’s movements, and whether additional people were connected to the incident. Authorities have not ruled out expanding the investigation if further evidence emerges.
