BEIJING (Reuters) -China on Friday threatened to impose the death penalty in extreme cases on “die-hard” Taiwanese independence separatists, even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction on the democratically-ruled island.
China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has made no secret of its antipathy towards President Lai Ching-te, who took office last month, saying he is a “separatist”, and has staged war games shortly after taking office. .
The new guidelines say China’s courts, prosecutors and public and state security organs should “severely punish Taiwan independence diehards for dividing the country and inciting secession crimes in accordance with the law, and resolutely defend national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity”, according to China. state news agency Xinhua.
The guidelines are being issued in accordance with laws already in force, including the 2005 anti-succession law, Xinhua said.
That law gives China the legal basis for military action against Taiwan if it secedes or appears poised to do so.
Sun Ping, an official at China’s Ministry of Public Security, told reporters in Beijing that the maximum penalty for the “crime of secession” was the death penalty.
“The sharp sword of legal action will always be raised,” she said.
There was no immediate response from the Taiwanese government. An official told Reuters they were still digesting the content of the new guidelines.
Lai has repeatedly offered to hold talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only the people of Taiwan can decide their future.
China has taken legal action against Taiwanese officials before, including imposing sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s former de facto ambassador to the United States and now the island’s vice president.
Such punishments have little practical effect since Chinese courts have no jurisdiction in Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; writing by Ben Blanchard; editing by Christopher Cushing and Miral Fahmy)
