China threatens to execute independence promoters, Taiwan issues travel warning

Taiwan’s government has urged its citizens to travel to China only if absolutely necessary, after Beijing threatened to execute those it considers “strong promoters of independence”. Spokesperson for the Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council, Liang Wen-chiehsaid the notice also applies to the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

At a press conference held today in Taipei, Liang clarified that this warning is not intended as a retaliatory measure against the Beijing government, but exclusively as an initiative to protect the population. Chinese authorities issued a series of guidelines on June 21 regarding the imposition of criminal sanctions on those considered by the government to be “hardline independence activists.”

Jointly issued by the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the Ministries of Public Security, State Security and Justice, they allow trial in absentia, with the maximum penalty being the death penalty. The guidelines detail a series of crimes, including promoting Taiwan’s entry into international organizations and suppressing groups, individuals and parties promoting “reunification.” Another clause, which defines “other acts aimed at separating Taiwan from China” as actionable, gives the guidelines a much broader interpretation. Beijing has taken legal action against Taiwanese officials in the past, including sanctions against current Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, a former de facto ambassador to the United States.

China’s latest move was also sharply opposed by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who stressed at a press conference in Taipei that “Beijing has no right to punish the Taiwanese people because of their positions.” “It also has no right to pursue the rights of Taiwanese people across the border,” he added. “I also want to invite Beijing to address the issue of the existence of the Republic of China and have exchanges and dialogues with the legitimate and democratically elected government of Taiwan,” Lai said, adding that “democracy is not a crime, and autocracy is the real evil.” China, which considers Taiwan an “inalienable part” of its territory, has never hidden its dislike of Lai, who is seen as a “stubborn promoter of independence.” Following the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president on May 20, the Chinese armed forces held two days of military exercises around the island (May 23-24), with the stated aim of “punishing separatists” and issuing a warning to “external forces” accused of interfering in cross-Strait relations.

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