- China officially declares that supporting Taiwan independence is a crime.
- Punishments include prison sentences of more than 10 years and even the death penalty.
- It is the first time the country has so clearly outlined a set of legal guidelines aimed at Taiwan.
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On Friday, China outlined a list of behaviors related to supporting Taiwan independence that are now a crime. The punishments for these acts today can reach up to the death penalty.
The country’s main legal bodies, including its Supreme Court, national prosecutors and three government ministries, issued a joint statement. In it, they urged courts and prosecutors at all levels in China to “severely punish Taiwanese independence stalwarts.”
These are China’s first official guidelines designating support for Taiwanese independence as a crime; They show how Beijing is hardening its stance towards the self-governed island.
Declaring Taiwan independence has long been a red line set by Beijing.
Supporting Taiwan independence is a crime according to China
Broad definitions of the crimes include promoting the idea of ”two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan” and creating an organization that attempts to achieve Taiwan independence. Relying on “foreign forces and institutions” to achieve independence was also mentioned.
Notably, the list criminalizes public attempts to undermine the concept that Taiwan is part of China in “the fields of education, culture, history and media.”
Punishments include prison sentences of up to 10 years, and even longer for those who lead organizations trying to help Taiwan break away.
Crimes considered “particularly heinous” can carry the death penalty, authorities added.
Tension between China and Taiwan continues to escalate
The new guidelines come just a month after Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, took office on May 20.
Lai’s political faction, the Democratic Progressive Party, has focused heavily on resisting China, and its takeover this year sparked a rising wave of aggressive posturing from Beijing.
When Lai took office in May, the Chinese military conducted live-fire exercises around Taiwan. Beijing has also continually issued public statements and scenario videos hinting at how it could attack the island.
China has no legal jurisdiction in Taiwan, but recommendations like the one issued Friday will likely hurt Taiwanese businesses even more.
Taipei has already withdrawn support for long-standing tourism programs to China, citing concerns that it may not be safe for its people to travel to the mainland.
And Taiwanese investment in China, which was rising in the late 2000s, has fallen to its lowest levels since 2001.
In 2023, new investment in China from Taiwan fell almost 40% to $3.06 billion even though the island reported a record investment of $26.6 billion that year.
Meanwhile, his companies rapidly expanded investment in the United States; They jumped from 1.1 billion dollars in 2022 to 9.7 billion in 2023.
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