Scientists call for fight against separatism

Experts support criminal prosecution of separatists in the “Taiwan Independence War”

The Chinese mainland's latest move to confront separatists fighting for “Taiwan independence” shows its determination and ability to push for cross-strait reunification, experts say.

About 140 scholars from both sides of the Taiwan Strait attended a two-day seminar on cross-strait relations in Qingdao, Shandong Province, over the weekend to expose the damage caused by the Democratic Progressive Party's views on “Taiwan independence” and find ways to repair it.

Qiu Kaiming, deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said Taiwan's new leader Lai Ching-te has persistently advocated “independence” since taking office, promoted confrontation between both sides of the Taiwan Strait, obstructed trade, and tried to achieve “independence” through military means and the deployment of foreign forces.

Such efforts have disturbed peace in the Taiwan Strait and are a provocation against the one-China principle, which the mainland will not tolerate and will resolutely oppose, he said.

In June, mainland authorities issued a set of guidelines for prosecuting staunch supporters of “Taiwan independence” who engage in or incite separatist activities, including allowing trials in absentia when necessary.

New sections were added to the websites of the Taiwan Affairs Office and the Ministry of Public Security earlier this month, listing 10 “pro-independence” Taiwanese politicians considered to be persistent separatists, along with the legal basis for their punishment and ways for the public to provide evidence of such behavior.

Qiu said the DPP authorities had deliberately confused the broader Taiwanese population with the few separatists targeted by the mainland, and their attempt to shift the focus would not succeed.

He called for upholding the one-China principle, combating separatism and foreign interference in the spirit of “Taiwan independence,” and strengthening confidence in the reunification of both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Wang Yingjin, a professor of Taiwan studies at Renmin University of China, said the mainland must severely punish institutions and individuals that advocate and promote “Taiwan independence” because it undermines the process of national reunification.

Publicly disclosing the names of separatists on websites and providing an opportunity to report evidence shows the mainland's firm determination to punish separatists through legal means, he said.

Yang Kai-huang, an expert on cross-strait relations at Taiwan's Ming Chuan University, said the latest measures represented a tightening of legal deterrence against politicians seeking “Taiwan independence.”

“They do not affect ordinary citizens, but a small number of separatist politicians,” he said. “Taiwanese people should read the documents carefully so as not to be misled by politicians.”

Bao Chengke, deputy director of the Shanghai Institute of East Asian Studies, said the mainland has taken various measures in the military, economic and legal fields to combat separatist actions.

He said it is important to increase vigilance against the aspirations for “Taiwan independence” while intensifying exchanges between both sides of the Taiwan Strait to give more people a correct historical perspective.