TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council has issued a warning about a new law passed by Chinese authorities this week in Beijing.

The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, adopted by the National People’s Congress on Thursday, could be used to target Taiwanese, according to a MAC press release. On Friday, Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung (沈有忠) said Chinese authorities may use the law to persecute those who support Taiwan’s independence, or are critical of the CCP.

The stated purpose of the law is to enforce the integration of ethnic groups in China, according to RTI. It will go into effect on July 1.

Since the law is designed to enforce loyalty to the CCP, officials in Taiwan say it may be used as a pretext for handling cross-strait issues. The law’s text demands the promotion of “unification and integration,” while opposing “independence and interference” in state matters. 

Due to the vague wording of the law, MAC is concerned that China will use it to threaten Taiwanese abroad who do not support unification, under the pretext of “damaging national unity.”

Chinese agents may also harass Taiwanese in other countries by practicing so-called “cross-border jurisdiction.” MAC warned that Chinese agents may also demand explicit statements from Taiwanese in support of Taiwan’s threatened annexation by China.