China Taiwan issue: The adverse relations between China and Taiwan seem to be worsening as the latter is reported to be mulling over to issue a warning to its citizens against a probability of being caught into the intricate cobweb of the ongoing political and military tussle between the two hostile neighbours. The warning by Taiwan to its citizens could well be about the risks of travelling to countries that have strong ties with China, such as Laos and Cambodia. Taipei is apprehensive that they will be in harm’s way over the aggressive posture of Beijing’s campaign against the supporters of Taiwan’s independence.
This information was shared by a senior Taiwanese official citing an internal memo.
China has for long maintained that Taiwan is its territory, a claim refuted by island. Beijing had, last year, issued guidelines to punish “diehard” Taiwan independence activists. The recommended punishment includes death penalty. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future.
Taiwan has its own military, passport and currency and is governed independently as the Republic of China, its official name. The Republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists, who set up the People’s Republic of China.
Late last month, a senior Chinese official gave closed-door instructions to state security units to “implement” the guidelines in countries friendly to China, according to a government memo reviewed by Reuters and a senior Taiwan security official. Both cited intelligence gathered by Taipei for that assessment.
In a statement, Taiwan’s foreign ministry told Reuters China had tried to use the guidelines to “shackle” Taiwan’s democracy and freedom. The ministry said it had asked its overseas offices to monitor and assess related risks and would boost public awareness on travel safety.
Taiwan security agencies are looking at options available and whether to raise the alert level for travel to certain countries for its citizens. It is feared that Taiwanese in Cambodia, Laos and some African nations could risk being taken in for investigation on suspicion of backing independence, said the senior Taiwanese official citing Taiwan’s assessment of the development and speaking on condition of anonymity.
“They might be taken for questioning by the local or Chinese police there, at least to psychologically intimidate them,” the official told Reuters.
The foreign ministries in Cambodia and Laos did not immediately respond while Taiwan has concluded that some countries, including some in Southeast Asia, have declined to cooperate with China’s request, the official said.
(With Reuters inputs)
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