China has published new guidelines for criminal punishments that include the death penalty for certain extreme cases involving what it calls “die-hard” Taiwan independence separatists.
The new guidelines, announced Friday, come as China is ramping up the pressure on Taiwan following its election of President Lai Ching-te in January and his inauguration last month.
China calls Lai a “dangerous separatist” and held war games shortly after he was sworn into office. Beijing has also launched trade sanctions and increased coast guard patrols around Taiwan-controlled islands off China’s southeastern coast.
In Beijing’s view, Taiwan is a part of China and the democratically governed island has only one choice — unification. However, public opinion polls in Taiwan show that most do not support unification or independence as soon as possible. Instead, most Taiwanese support maintaining the status quo, according to polls.
Beijing has made no secret of its dislike for Lai and his pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party. The new measures appear to be the latest effort by China to drive a wedge between the Taiwanese public and the new administration.
According to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency, the guidelines are aimed at those who form "secessionist organizations" or direct people to "carry out activities that split the state."
China's courts, prosecutors and public and state security bodies are to “severely punish Taiwan independence die-hards for splitting the country and inciting secession crimes in accordance with the law, and resolutely defend national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity,” according to Xinhua, which added that new rules take effect Friday.
Within the guidelines, the death penalty is specified for “ringleaders" of independence efforts who "cause particularly serious harm to the state and the people."
In response to the new regulations, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council urged the public to not feel threatened or intimidated by the Chinese Communist Party.
“The Beijing authorities have absolutely no jurisdiction over Taiwan, and the Chinese communists' so-called laws and norms have no binding force on our people,” the council said in a statement.
Lai has offered to hold talks with China, but Beijing has rejected his overtures. China also refused to talk with Lai’s predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, who is from the same party.
