A Taiwanese security official has raised alarms over China’s Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law, suggesting it could broaden Beijing’s reach in targeting overseas critics. Enacted this week, the law mandates all Chinese citizens to endorse national unity and enables legal proceedings against individuals or groups accused of fostering division, irrespective of their location.
The official outlined China’s five primary strategies for transnational repression. These include criminalizing anti-government speech made abroad, pressuring critics by retaliating against their families, leveraging international legal frameworks like Interpol red notices to chase dissidents, branding advocates of pro-democracy initiatives as extremists, and executing abductions or forced returns.
Concerns have also been expressed regarding China’s operation of overseas police stations, which are allegedly used to surveil and coerce critics in other nations. This activity is seen as a potential breach of international law and diplomatic protocols, further fueling apprehensions about Beijing’s global influence.
In response to these developments, Taiwan is actively working to raise public awareness about the dangers associated with traveling to China. Additionally, it is intensifying efforts to counteract activities that might enable foreign interference, aiming to safeguard its citizens and maintain its sovereignty.