Beijing has escalated the already fraught situation with Taiwan by issuing a chilling threat to those championing the island’s independence, declaring that such individuals could face the death penalty.
In an alarming statement, China‘s government has made it clear that it will impose the ultimate punishment on “diehard” leaders and activists who are pushing for Taiwan’s separation from the mainland.
This development comes amid increasing military manoeuvres by China across the Taiwan Strait, raising fears of a potential invasion. Chinese state media outlet Xinhua announced on Friday that a new directive had been issued to penalise “‘Taiwan independence diehards for splitting the country and inciting secession”.
The edict specifically targets the “ringleaders” of Taiwan’s independence movement, whom Beijing accuses of causing severe harm to the Chinese state and its citizens.
Historically, Taiwan has faced continuous threats from China, which considers the island a breakaway province that must eventually be brought under its control. The Chinese Communist Party has repeatedly declared its readiness to use force if necessary to achieve this goal.
The election of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, has further provoked Beijing, which has intensified its military drills around Taiwan in response. Recently, China issued a stark warning to “crush” any attempts by Taiwan to declare independence from what it calls its “motherland.”
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun condemned Taiwan’s “dangerous separatists,” asserting that the military is prepared to “forcefully” engage in conflict if necessary. This threat followed a series of aggressive invasion drills, including a propaganda video depicting missile attacks on Taiwan.
The latest policy underscores Beijing’s intention to harshly penalise those who attempt to alter Taiwan’s status. Sun Ping, a Chinese official, emphasised that the new measures mean “the sharp sword of legal action will always hang high” over pro-independence figures.
Beijing’s defence ministry spokesperson, Wu Qian, has also accused Taiwan’s leadership of endangering regional stability by challenging the one-China principle, warning that such actions are tantamount to “playing with fire.”
In a show of force, China has dispatched 66 warplanes into Taiwanese airspace over the past two days, according to Bloomberg. Some analysts suggest that China might employ strategies to economically isolate Taiwan and force it into submission without direct military confrontation.
The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a prominent think tank in the United States, has proposed that China could use “grey zone” tactics, such as blockading Taiwanese ports to cut off essential supplies, with military forces providing support as needed.