Beijing claims it will severely punish independence advocates in accordance with Chinese law
Taiwan News
Date: 2020/110/26
By: Eric Chang, Taiwan News, Contributing Writer
President Tsai Ing-wen (center) (AP photo)
The idea was first floated by pro-Beijing Hong Kong-based newspaper Ta Kung Pao earlier this month, according to Reuters. China’s English tabloid the Global Times has said the list could include senior Taiwanese government officials.
Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory. However, the reality is that the country of Taiwan has its own democratically elected government from the top down, its own judicial system and laws, its own currency, its own military, its own healthcare system, in addition to a Taiwanese society that practices freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and respect for human rights, which lies in stark contrast to China.
Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮), a spokeswoman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said the “list of diehard Taiwan secessionists” now being considered will only target a small number of independence supporters and those who fund them, Reuters reported. “It is absolutely not aimed at the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots,” Zhu said at a regular press briefing in Beijing. [FULL STORY]
