Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, attends a press conference in Beijing, on September 13, 2023. Photo: VCG

The criminal punishment measures that have been put forward by the Chinese mainland only target the very few diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists. However, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities attempt to smear the judicial documents, incite cross-Straits antagonism, and obstruct cross-Straits exchanges, severely infringing on the legitimate rights and interests of the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said in a statement on Friday. 

Chinese authorities in late June issued a set of guidelines on imposing criminal punishments on diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists for carrying out or inciting secession, which allows for the death penalty and a trial in absentia in relevant cases and stipulates that those who are found to have colluded with any foreign or overseas institution, organization or individual in committing such crimes should be given a harsher punishment.

Recently, the DPP authorities have constantly distorted and smeared the guidelines, deliberately conflating the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots with the very few diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists with the purpose of spreading rumors, creating panic, and coercing the masses into supporting "Taiwan independence." 

In a statement released on Friday, Chen said that the current situation in the Taiwan Straits is complex and severe. The DPP authorities stubbornly push for a "Taiwan independence" separatist agenda, refuse to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle, and continually collude with external forces in provocative moves for "independence." This is the root cause of military tensions, social division, and harm to the interests of the people across the Taiwan Straits.

Punishing diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists according to law for splitting the country and inciting secession is necessary for defending national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, Chen said, noting that it is also a just act to protect the common interests of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. 

This also aligns with the common practices of countries around the world and is reasonable, legitimate, and lawful, said Chen. 

The guidelines, from the title to the text, showed that these criminal punishment measures only target a few stubborn “Taiwan independence” separatists who have been involved in egregious separatist activities and rampant "independence" activities, as well as crimes of splitting the country and inciting secession, said Chen. 

Chen said that the judicial documents are formulated strictly according to the law and are precisely targeted, and do not involve or affect the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots. 

For any political party, group, or individual in Taiwan island, as long as they do not engage in activities that split the country and recognize that people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are Chinese and part of one family, there will be no obstacles to interacting and communicating with the mainland, said Chen.

For those who have previously strayed onto the path of "Taiwan independence" but have since made a clear and positive shift in their stance, as long as they no longer engage in "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and take concrete measures to mitigate or eliminate harmful consequences, they could be exempted from some or even all criminal liability according to the law, said the spokesperson. 

The DPP authorities and some "Taiwan independence" politicians, intimidated by the enormous pressure of the judicial documents, maliciously create an information bubble, deliberately conflating the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots with the very few diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists, Chen said.

Chen noted that facts prove that an increasing number of Taiwan compatriots have seen through the DPP authorities' malicious intentions and have clearly expressed in various ways their unwillingness to be associated with "Taiwan independence." They are also taking concrete actions to distance themselves from the diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists. 

The recent lively and high-profile exchanges across various fields between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits are the most powerful rebuttal to the DPP authorities' smears and slanders, according to the spokesperson. 

We will continue to warmly welcome and support the broad participation of Taiwan compatriots in cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation in various forms. We hope they will become witnesses, contributors, and beneficiaries of China's modernization, and join hands with mainland compatriots to create a bright future for the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Chen said.

Global Times