The Chinese government have announced that individuals identified as “diehard Taiwanese secessionists” will be prevented from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. In an attempt to remove the obstacles to Taiwan-mainland reunification, such secessionists will also be unable to seek cooperation between their businesses and mainland Chinese businesses. Such measures are expected to deter the secessionist movement in Taiwan, especially by removing the ability of associated businesses to make a profit from mainland China.
The new measures will apply not only to a list of these “diehard” secessionists but their families also, and will effect some senior officials of the island’s government. This includes Premier Su Tseng-chang, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu, and President of the Legislative Yuan, You Si-Kun. Such concrete action by the mainland government against officials like these serves to demonstrate clear consequences for those most stoking the flames of separatism. It also shows that the PRC’s commitment to reunification, and warnings against the secessionist movement, are not empty.
Zhu Fenglian, who speaks for the Taiwanese Affairs Office of the PRC, explained how the individuals affected had launched malicious attacks against the mainland. They condemned these secessionists for their collusion with foreign forces, and reducing stability around the Taiwan Strait. Such talk of foreign collusion comes only a month after US officials admitted the stationing of American troops on Taiwan, training Taiwanese forces as part of the US’ wider push for Taiwanese secessionism.
Zhu argued, “We want to tell these diehard secessionists that those who forget their heritage, betray their motherland, and seek to split the country will come to no good end and will be disdained by the people and condemned by history. The Chinese mainland will seek criminal responsibility for them, valid for life”.
President Xi Jinping has been vocal about his commitment to Taiwan’s reunification with the mainland. In a speech last month, commerating the 1911 Chinese revolution, he called for peaceful cooperation towards this goal. “National reunification by peaceful means best serves the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole, including compatriots in Taiwan… Those that forget their heritage, betray their motherland, and seek to split the country will come to no good end. They will be disdained by the people and condemned by history”.
Philip English, is a member of the YCL’s Birmingham branch
