TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Scholars warned that China's draconian punishments for “Taiwan independence die-hards" could apply to Taiwanese traveling overseas.
Scholars said China's new regulations mark an expansion of jurisdiction that breaks international law, per CNA. In addition, they said the new rules, enforcement methods, and targets are vague, potentially implicating foreign politicians who are friendly to Taiwan.
On Friday (June 21), China issued “22 Opinions" on punishing Taiwan independence activists allowing for trial in absentia, with the maximum penalty being the death sentence. On Monday morning, the Asia-Pacific Elite Interchange Association held a seminar, inviting legal and China studies scholars to discuss this issue.
Taiwan Thinktank researcher Wu Se-chih (吳瑟致) said the 22 opinions create "two ambiguities." The first is promoting integration with Taiwan.
The second ambiguity lies in the definitions and implementation. This could increase risks for citizens who travel to or conduct business in countries friendly to China, or those that have signed judicial cooperation agreements with China.
International law scholar and constitutional reform activist Raymond Sung (宋承恩) said the new regulations break international law.
He said advocating for Taiwan independence or maintaining the Cross-Strait Act are political stances and do not constitute crimes in Taiwan. However, China interprets these actions as crimes of secession.
Sung said expressing political views, engaging and discussing democratic politics are protected by international human rights conventions.
Lin Ting-hui (林廷輝), former deputy secretary-general of the Taiwanese Society of International Law, told the news agency that Taiwan’s membership of international organizations limited to sovereign states or engaging in official or military exchanges with other countries also constituted a crime.
Wang Chih-sheng (王智盛), secretary-general of the Association of Chinese Elite Leadership said foreign dignitaries friendly to Taiwan and international think tanks could also inadvertently flout the new law.
Sung said that since China has weaponized legal tools, Taiwan must establish a secure diplomatic network to help the international community understand that such documents should not enter the international legal system or become a tool for other countries.
