China escalated itsrhetoric against Taiwan on Friday, issuing new guidelines that could impose thedeath penalty for "diehard" Taiwan independence advocates, a moveseen as intensifying pressure on the island despite lacking jurisdiction overits democratically governed counterpart.
The announcement, madethrough China's state-run Xinhua news agency, underscores Beijing's staunchopposition to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, whom it labels a"separatist." This follows heightened military maneuvers and traderestrictions since Lai's inauguration earlier this year.
According to theguidelines, Chinese courts and security bodies are instructed to enforceexisting laws, particularly the 2005 anti-succession law, to clamp down onactivities perceived as promoting Taiwanese independence. These laws providethe legal basis for military action should Taiwan declare independence or showsigns of doing so.
Sun Ping of China’sMinistry of Public Security emphasized the severity of potential penalties,noting that the maximum punishment for the "crime of secession" couldbe the death penalty. She reiterated that China is committed to defendingnational sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.
In response, Taiwan hasyet to issue an official statement, with government officials reportedly stillassessing the implications of China's latest directives.
The guidelines outlinespecific actions deemed punishable, including efforts to secure Taiwan'sparticipation in international organizations as a sovereign state and engagingin diplomatic exchanges that Beijing views as undermining its claims to Taiwan.
President Lai hasrepeatedly expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with China under theprinciple that Taiwan's future should be determined by its people. However,Beijing has consistently rejected such overtures.
Historically, China hasimposed sanctions on Taiwanese officials and entities it perceives aschallenging its sovereignty claims, such as former de facto ambassador to theUnited States, Hsiao Bi-khim, who now serves as Taiwan's vice president.
espite these measures,Taiwan maintains its stance on rejecting Beijing's sovereignty, with itsofficials declining to visit China and emphasizing the lack of jurisdiction ofChinese courts over Taiwan's affairs.
As tensions continue tomount, the international community closely watches the developments betweenChina and Taiwan, with concerns over potential implications for regionalstability and geopolitical relations in East Asia.
