The Chinese authorities have announced this Friday a series of “punishment” measures through criminal law against all those “staunch separatists” who incite secession or advocate the independence of Taiwan. The new judicial framework, which has been adopted by the Supreme Court and the country’s Prosecutor’s Office, will come into force as soon as it is published through official channels and will even imply the holding of trials against defendants even if they are not present, according to the court order, listed on the website of the China Court Network. The document is framed in China’s new Anti-Secession Law, as well as the Criminal Procedure Law, which offers more specific guidelines when it comes to sentencing. Likewise, it stipulates the procedures to follow in each case, which serves as a guide to the judiciary. In this sense, it offers clear definitions regarding the separatist issue and refers to acts of organization or plot to achieve the independence of the territory, considered by Beijing to be another province under its sovereignty. Thus, seeking independence through foreign support or force will also have criminal consequences. The regulations stipulate that those found guilty of collaborating with third countries or foreign institutions to carry out this type of crime will receive “more severe punishments.”
