Beijing Extends Anti-Taiwan Independence Crackdown Abroad; Taiwan Considers Raising Travel Safety Alert

Taiwan/Flag of the Republic of China. On January 11, 2023, at a military base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan's armed forces conducted a two-day routine exercise. (Annabelle Chih/Getty Images)

[People News] The Taiwanese government is considering issuing travel safety warnings for certain countries with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This comes as Beijing's crackdown on so-called "Taiwan independence" figures expands beyond its borders, raising concerns that Taiwanese citizens could face arrest or investigation in these countries.

According to Voice of America (VOA), Reuters published an exclusive report on Friday (March 7), identifying Laos and Cambodia as among the nations with strong ties to the CCP.

Following the enactment of the Anti-Secession Law in 2005, the CCP further escalated its stance in June last year by issuing Guidelines on Punishing Stubborn Taiwan Independence Separatists for Crimes of Secession and Incitement to Secession. Although Chinese courts have no legal jurisdiction over Taiwan, the document asserts that punishments for so-called "stubborn Taiwan independence figures" include imprisonment, life sentences, and even the death penalty.

Reuters has learned from an interview with a senior security official from Taiwan and a memorandum from the Taiwan government that a senior official from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ordered the CCP's security agencies to 'execute' regulations aimed at punishing stubborn 'Taiwan independence' advocates during a closed-door meeting at the end of February. Both the senior Taiwanese official and the memorandum indicated that this assessment was based on gathered intelligence.

Reuters reached out to the Taiwan Affairs Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing for comments on this issue but did not receive an immediate response.

In a statement provided to Reuters, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that the CCP is attempting to use the so-called regulations to punish advocates of Taiwan independence in order to 'constrain' Taiwan's democracy and freedom. The Ministry has instructed its diplomatic missions in various countries to monitor and assess the associated risks, while also stressing the importance of travel safety to the Taiwanese public.

A Taiwanese security official interviewed by Reuters mentioned that Taiwan's security agencies are currently evaluating whether to raise travel safety warnings for Taiwanese citizens traveling to certain countries. At this time, Reuters cannot confirm whether the Taiwan government has made a decision regarding the issuance of travel warnings, nor can it specify which countries these warnings may involve.

However, the security official noted that Taiwanese individuals in Cambodia, Laos, and certain African nations may face risks of detention and investigation due to their support for Taiwan independence. The unnamed official stated that this assessment was made based on the evolving situation.

'They could be summoned for questioning by local authorities or CCP police there, which could at least instill psychological fear in them,' Reuters quoted the official as saying.

Reuters reached out to the foreign ministries of Cambodia and Laos for comments on this issue but did not receive an immediate response.

Taiwanese security officials informed Reuters that after assessment, Taiwan has concluded that several countries, including those in Southeast Asia, have rejected the Chinese Communist Party's request for cooperation regarding this matter.

In recent years, tensions have persisted in cross-strait relations. The Chinese Communist Party has not only normalized the deployment of naval vessels to conduct military exercises and readiness patrols in the air and sea surrounding Taiwan, but has also imposed trade restrictions and sanctions on Taiwan.

As reported by Taiwan's Central News Agency, Fu Kun-chi, the leader of the Kuomintang Legislative Yuan caucus, and Hualien County Magistrate Xu Zhenwei led a delegation to Hong Kong in February this year, during which one member of the delegation was detained upon entry. This incident was first announced by Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and confirmed by the Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan's Executive Yuan.

However, based on the information disclosed by various parties, the detained woman, surnamed Chen, is employed at the Hualien Shin Kong Chao Feng Farm, and her detention may be related to an economic dispute, rather than being connected to 'Taiwan independence' or other political issues.

A memorandum from Taiwan's security agencies, which Reuters has seen, indicates that intelligence collected by Taiwan shows that the Beijing authorities' directives to punish stubborn Taiwan independence advocates overseas were issued during a two-day meeting on Taiwan issues chaired by Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, on February 25. Wang Huning also serves as a national advisor to Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.

A memorandum from the Taiwanese government reveals that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has requested that embassies and overseas police stations in countries that maintain a 'high level of trust' with the CCP enforce regulations aimed at punishing stubborn advocates of Taiwan independence among tourists, students, and residents from Taiwan.

Following the issuance of judicial documents by the CCP in June last year concerning the punishment of these advocates, the move was met with condemnation from both Taiwan and the United States. In response, the Taiwanese government heightened its travel safety warning for citizens heading to mainland China.

At present, Taiwan has issued an 'orange' Level 2 travel advisory for Cambodia and Laos, advising its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to these countries. This caution is primarily due to concerns about the potential for Taiwanese individuals to be kidnapped and trafficked by local criminal syndicates operating scam centers.