Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images
The Taiwanese flag is seen at a market in Kaohsiung on January 10, 2024.
CNN
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China warned on Friday that it would impose the death penalty in extreme cases on “stubborn” Taiwanese separatists, as it stepped up pressure even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction over the democratically ruled island.
China, which considers Taiwan to be its territory, has made no secret of its dislike for President Lai Ching-te, who took office last month, calling him a “separatist” and conducting military drills shortly after he took office.
Taiwan has complained about increasing Chinese pressure since Lai won election in January, including military action, trade sanctions and Japan Coast Guard patrols around islands it controls that border China.
According to the state-run Xinhua News Agency, the new guidelines say China’s courts, prosecutors, public institutions and national security organs should “severely punish Taiwan independence hardliners in accordance with the law for splitting the nation and inciting separatist crimes, and resolutely safeguard the nation’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.”
According to Xinhua, the guidelines were issued based on existing laws, such as the 2005 Anti-Inheritance Law.
The law gives China the legal basis to take military action against Taiwan if it declares or is likely to declare independence.
Sun Ping, from China’s Ministry of Public Security, told reporters in Beijing that the maximum penalty for “secession” is the death penalty.
“The sharp sword of legal action will always be held high,” she said.
There was no immediate reaction from the Taiwanese government, and an official told Reuters they were still reviewing the new guidelines.
The guidelines detail actions that would be considered punishable offences, including promoting Taiwan’s membership in international organisations where statehood is a condition, having “official contacts with the outside world”, and “suppressing” political parties, organisations or people that promote “unification”.
The guidelines add a new clause to the list of acts that could be considered crimes, calling for “any other act seeking to separate Taiwan from China,” leaving the rules open to broad interpretation.
Lai has repeatedly proposed talks with China but has been rebuffed, saying only the Taiwanese people can decide Taiwan’s future.
China has previously taken legal action against Taiwanese officials, including sanctions against Taiwan’s former de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-hsin, who is now Taiwan’s vice president.
Such punishments would have little practical effect because Chinese courts have no jurisdiction in Taiwan and the island’s government denies Beijing’s claims of sovereignty.
Taiwan’s top officials, including its president, have also not visited China.
