The Chinese administration said that most Taiwanese visitors to the country can come “in high spirits” and without any worries, criticizing Taiwan for alerting its nationals not to travel after Beijing threatened to execute “diehard” rebels.
This week, when China unveiled new legal guidelines threatening imprisonment and, in the worst situations, the death penalty for Taiwan independence separatists, Taiwan’s government increased its travel advisory for China, advising individuals not to travel there unless absolutely necessary.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office stated in a statement late on Friday that the rules solely targeted a small group of separatists and their “evil words and actions.” Taiwan, which is democratically administered, is seen as Chinese territory.
China is vehemently against Taiwan’s attempt to use intimidation against its own citizens for political purposes, the office stated in a statement, citing Taiwan’s disregard for the truth.
Most of their Taiwanese counterparts are able to engage in cooperation and cross-strait interactions. They don’t need to worry about getting to and from the mainland transportation. They can certainly arrive in a good mood and leave happy.
While Chinese courts do not have authority in Taiwan, and it is unclear how China could attempt to execute any court rulings outside its boundaries, China has threatened to pursue those it considers to be Taiwan separatists wherever they may be.
The Chinese cities of Hong Kong and Macau are likewise covered by Taiwan’s travel advisory.
China has made no secret of its distaste for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, whom it considers to be a “separatist.” Following his inauguration last month, China organized two days of war simulations and frequently dispatched fighter jets and vessels to conduct operations within Taiwan.
Lai has been rejected every time he has offered to have discussions with China. Only the people of Taiwan can determine their own destiny, he argues, rejecting Beijing’s claims to sovereignty.
China claims that Taiwan would be attacked if it attempted to formally declare its independence.
According to the Taipei government, Taiwan is already the Republic of China, and there are no plans to change that. 1949 saw the Republican government lose a civil war to Mao Zedong’s Communists and retreat to Taiwan.