– Tougher action against “diehard separatists”
Beijing publishes a blacklist of ten top politicians from Taiwan. Under a new law, they could be sentenced to death in absentia.
Published: 16.08.2024, 21:15
Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s vice president, is listed as a “separatist.”
Photo: Keystone, EPA
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The Chinese government has called on its citizens to report “diehard separatists” from Taiwan and their crimes. That is, Taiwanese who allegedly demand the island’s independence from China. The Taiwan Affairs Office, which is part of the State Council, and the Ministry of State Security published the call on their websites in August. The aim is the “lawful punishment” of separatists for “serious crimes”.
Beijing has already published a list of ten current and former Taiwanese government officials, whom it describes as “diehard separatists.” Among them are Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, who was stationed as the country’s envoy to the United States until the election, and former Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, who now chairs Taiwan’s Security Council.
Citizens should provide information to authorities
Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office has set up an email address to which citizens can send tips. The newly established website also contains media releases about other cases in which the Chinese government accuses companies and organizations of supporting Taiwan’s independence.
The website also publishes China’s 2005 anti-secession law, which would allow the country to intervene militarily if Taiwan “secrets” or, as the law states, “all options for achieving peaceful reunification have been exhausted.”
The Communist Party lays claim to the island republic off its coast, which has been politically separated from the mainland since the Chinese Civil War in 1949, and considers Taiwan to be a province of the People’s Republic. Because most of the 24 million Taiwanese today reject unification with the communist state, Beijing has been increasing pressure for several years.
Chinese warships regularly enter Taiwanese waters and fighter planes circle the island. The regime wants to force the Taiwanese to surrender with economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The election of the new president Lai Ching-te in January, whom Beijing also describes as a secessionist, has triggered a new wave of repression.
There are three major parties in Taiwan. While the pro-Chinese parties – the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People’s Party – are committed to closer relations with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party is promoting greater independence. However, the ruling party is not promoting a formal declaration of independence, as Beijing claims.
China’s judiciary wants to judge Taiwanese
On the contrary, most Taiwanese do not want to shake up the status quo so as not to provoke Beijing. Lai Ching-te stresses that Taiwan is already a sovereign and independent nation, so it does not need to officially declare its independence. Taiwan is de facto politically independent: It has its own legal system, its own currency and free elections.
Even though the Chinese state newspaper Global Times responded to the call to report alleged separatists by saying that the measure was not aimed at the majority of “compatriots” in Taiwan, it is likely intended as an intimidation measure. According to a recently introduced law, China’s judiciary can bring people accused of secession attempts to court in the People’s Republic in their absence. According to the Xinhua news agency, the maximum penalty for those convicted is the death penalty.
Taiwan’s government is outraged. The office that regulates relations with the People’s Republic in Taiwan makes it clear that Beijing has no legal sovereignty over Taiwan and that its laws have no binding force for Taiwanese.
China reaches for Taiwan
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LoginLea Sahay is a correspondent in China. She reports on politics and society from Beijing. More information@Lea_Sahay
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