Taiwan raised its travel warning to mainland China on Thursday, urging its citizens not to travel to the mainland unless necessary, after Beijing raised possible penalties, including execution in extreme cases, against so-called “die-hard supporters of Taiwan independence” .
China considers Taiwan, a democratically governed island of 23 million people about 100 miles off the coast of the mainland, as its territory. It demands Taiwan eventually accept reunification and has long condemned Taiwanese who oppose its claims to the island.
China stepped up pressure last week, issuing legal guidelines detailing possible measures to punish supporters of Taiwan’s autonomy. They come amid growing tensions between U.S.-backed Taiwan and China. Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, was sworn in last month and has vowed to uphold Taiwan’s democracy, but has been condemned by Beijing.
The new rules adopted by China authorize the death penalty for what it describes as extremely serious cases of Taiwanese independence separatism, although the rules do not specify what actions may constitute serious crimes.
In response, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which handles mainland policy, said Beijing was “adhering to its position” on the Taiwan issue and “increasing personal safety risks for nationals traveling to mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau”.
The new president, Mr Lai, criticized the new rules. “China has no right to sanction the people of Taiwan for their political views or to prosecute cross-border cases,” he said on social media earlier this week. “Democracy is not a crime; dictatorship is the real evil.
Mr Lai called for dialogue with China but stopped short of calling for Taiwan’s independence. He said he wanted to maintain the status quo and allow Taiwan to enjoy autonomy.
However, Beijing has denounced Lai, declaring him a separatist, and greeted his new government with inflammatory rhetoric and a series of military drills near Taiwan.
Despite Beijing’s escalating confrontation and flexing of its military might, many Taiwanese appear optimistic. A recent poll showed a majority of people on the island believe the United States would intervene if China invaded, but some question whether Washington and its own government have unnecessarily angered Beijing.
Beijing has a history of detaining people with ties to Taiwan.
In 2023, Taiwanese Chinese citizen Li Yanhe was charged with crimes against national security for publishing books critical of the Chinese Communist Party. In 2022, democracy advocate Li Mingzhe was released from a Chinese prison after serving five years on charges of subversion.
A generation gap has also emerged among Taiwanese over travel, causing tensions with the mainland. A 2023 poll showed that travelers over 40 were far more likely to visit China than younger travelers, who were more likely to visit Japan.
