China imposes death penalty for crimes related to “Taiwan independence”

China on Friday introduced new penalties, including the death penalty, for those it considers to be “diehard advocates of ‘Taiwan independence.'”

China’s Supreme Court, the ministries of public security, the Ministry of Justice and the Procuratorate have jointly issued a statement listing broadly worded crimes.

Penalties include prison sentences ranging from three years to life imprisonment and, in “particularly serious” cases, the death penalty – depending on the severity of the offense.

Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory, although it has never ruled there. Taiwan has its own government and legal system and is therefore not subject to Chinese laws.

“A very small number of die-hard supporters of ‘Taiwan independence’ have deliberately carried out separatist activities under the banner of ‘Taiwan independence’, seriously endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and seriously damaging the common interests of compatriots on both sides of the strait,” said the document, carried by state news agency Xinhua.

The document lists various behaviors that promote the impression that Taiwan is not part of China. These include:

• Attempts to change “Taiwan’s legal status as part of China” by repealing regulations or calling a referendum.
• “Using one’s own authority” to portray Taiwan as independent “in the fields of education, culture, history and news media.”
• Playing a “key role” in “Taiwan independence” organizations or assisting the leaders of these groups in carrying out related activities.
• “Active support for the ringleaders of the separatist organization ‘Taiwan Independence’.”

Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the de facto Taiwanese embassy in the United States for comment.

When asked how likely it was that China would use the rules against the thousands of Taiwanese living in China, Bonnie Glaser, executive director of the Indo-Pacific Program of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, replied: Newsweek that they are not the primary target.

“But it is possible that individuals could be arrested and charged under this law. It could also have a deterrent effect on foreigners conducting research on Taiwan,” Glaser said.

Wang Hung-Jen, director of Taiwan’s Institute for National Policy Research, told the Taipei-based Central News Agency that Beijing’s aim was to “immediately spread a sense of fear” and that the political motives behind the new rules “outweigh the legal purpose.”

China had previously imposed sanctions on Taiwanese officials, politicians and media representatives.

Earlier this year, Beijing announced sanctions against Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim, then head of the Taiwanese embassy in the United States, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, National Security Council Chairman Wellington Koo and several lawmakers from President Lai Ching-te’s Democratic Progressive Party.

China has previously prosecuted Taiwanese who visited the country after coming into conflict with Beijing. One example is Lee Ming-che, a democracy activist who was held incommunicado for six months before his trial. Lee was sentenced to five years in prison for “subversion of state power.”

China has increased its pressure on the self-ruled island since Lai took office last month. Lai was hated in Beijing in the past for his pro-independence statements.

China is threatening war if Taiwan officially declares independence. Recent polls show that most Taiwanese would rather maintain the status quo than declare independence or reunify with China.