(TibetanReview.net, Jun23’24) — After supposedly exercising jurisdiction over the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh by renaming places in it and over 90% of the South China Sea maritime territory by all manners of intimidation of other coastal countries that question its expansionist design, China has now sought to do the same by issuing judicial guidelines for trying and sentencing to death in absentia what it calls “diehard” advocates for Taiwan independence. Both the ruling and opposition leaders of Taiwan have condemned China’s latest move to now judicially annex the democratically self-ruled territory.
China “has no jurisdiction over the Republic of China” (Taiwan’s official name), the CNA news service Jun 22 quoted opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu as telling reporters in Taipei.
He has expressed concern over the heightened antagonism between Taipei and Beijing and called on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to “exercise restraint” and “replace confrontation with dialogue.”
The KMT is considered China-friendly and pro-“One-China” policy that Beijing insists all Taiwanese leaders must accept.
The report also cited Celina Wu, spokeswoman for the opposition Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) as saying the introduction of the new guidelines was an act of “intimidation.” The actions described in the guidelines would only exacerbate the antagonism between the people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and impede bilateral exchanges, Wu has said.
Like KMT, the TPP also favours good relations with the mainland.
Meanwhile, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has said China cannot exercise jurisdiction over Taiwan, saying the Taiwanese people are protected by Taiwan’s constitutional and democratic system, he has said.
Beijing “lacks understanding” of Taiwan, where the people have freedom of expression and can freely voice support for either Taiwan independence or unification with China, Chen has explained.
China sees the DPP as moving towards independence for Taiwan and the death sentence threat obviously targets its leaders.
This judicial document surely serves as a blow to President Lai Ching-te and his fellow separatists, said China’s official Xinhua news agency Jun 22.
It said “diehard” advocates of Taiwan independence who are convicted of inciting secession or committing other “serious crimes” may be sentenced to death.
The Jun 21 guidelines, which detail “the criminal nature of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist acts, their criminal liabilities, and the procedure to impose penalties,” can be regarded as “a refinement and supplement” to China’s 2005 Anti-Secession Law, the Xinhua report further said.
The guidelines on imposing criminal punishments on diehard “Taiwan independence” separatists for conducting or inciting secession were jointly issued by the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and the ministries of public security, state security, and justice and took effect upon release, said a Xinhua report Jun 21.