“Hardcore” or “diehard” Taiwanese separatists are in danger of being executed by the Chinese government.
In response to China’s recent threat “to impose the death penalty in extreme cases for ‘diehard’ Taiwan independence separatists,” described by CNN as “a ratcheting up of pressure,” Taiwan has issued a travel advisory.
From the Associated Press (June 28, 2024):
Taiwan has urged its citizens to avoid travel to China and the semi-autonomous Chinese territories of Hong Kong and Macao following threats from Beijing to execute supporters of the self-governing island democracy’s independence.
Spokesperson and deputy head of the Mainland Affairs Council Liang Wen-chieh issued the advisory at a news conference Thursday.
That came amid growing threats from China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary.
China’s threat to hunt down and execute “hardcore” Taiwan independence supporters follows the election of Lai Ching-te of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party as president….
“In response to the new guidelines related to the so-called ‘secession crime,’ the government has the responsibility to remind citizens that there are genuine risks involved” in such visits, Liang said.
What is a “hardcore” separatist or “supporter of independence”? Someone who thinks that the Republic of China already exists as a separate and independent country? Someone who says so? Someone who says so vehemently? Someone who pretends that the ROC is not a country but expresses a wish that it will become one soon? Someone who makes “separatism” a campaign theme?
It’s not the kind of thing you want to learn for sure only when the executioner is about to pull the trigger.
Just kidding?
Exactly how serious is China’s threat? That’s guesswork, but maybe more or less as serious as its continuous threat to invade Taiwan. On the one hand, it doesn’t look as if the PRC will be invading the ROC tomorrow. On the other hand, you can’t say “Oh, China is just kidding around.” Not when you consider all the military drills, spy balloons, cyberattacks, propaganda, infiltrations of Taiwanese institutions, etc.
A national government has threatened to kill innocent people for failing to adequately pretend to accept an oft-repeated delusion. This government has not retracted the threat.
To be sure, the People’s Republic of China probably doesn’t intend to murder everyone in the Republic of China who says the ROC is a country or even all of the most “extreme,” “diehard,” “hardcore” observers of this fact. Not right now. Not this very minute. But the mainland government’s authorization of itself to take such an action is on the books. They’re not just kidding around.
Or are they? China’s Taiwan Affairs Office professes to be appalled by Taiwan’s advisory. Come to China. Eat, drink, and be merry. Everything is fine.
Yeah? Was it all a joke?
According to the Taiwan Affairs Office official statement: “The majority of Taiwanese compatriots can participate in cross-strait exchanges and cooperation. They don’t have to have any worries about travelling to and from the mainland. They can absolutely arrive in high spirits and depart well content.” (Yes, somebody wrote this.)
So relax. It’s just a minority of Taiwanese “compatriots,” the ones who are going to be murdered, who have something to worry about.
