How China's Rhetoric is Turning Dangerous for Taiwanese Nationals

[Social Media]

 

The relationship between China and Taiwan has become increasingly fraught with tension, as Beijing’s aggressive rhetoric towards the democratically governed island has begun to translate into concrete actions that could have serious consequences for Taiwanese nationals.

 

Calls to denounce “die-hard” Taiwanese secessionists, the establishment of a tipline to report them, and the imposition of severe punishments—including life imprisonment and the death penalty for those deemed "ringleaders"—are all part of China’s escalating campaign against Taiwanese independence. While the island has grown accustomed to China’s claims and military provocations, the latest moves to criminalize support for Taiwan’s autonomy are causing deep concern among Taiwanese citizens, both those living in China and those at home.

 

For many Taiwanese residing in China, the situation has become untenable. One Taiwanese businesswoman, based in China, shared her thoughts on the recent developments: “I am currently planning to speed up my departure.” Her decision came soon after the Supreme Court of China introduced changes that allow life imprisonment or even the death penalty for those found guilty of advocating for Taiwanese independence. She expressed a sense of urgency and fear, noting that the boundary between acceptable and unacceptable behavior has become increasingly blurred: “I don’t think that is making a mountain out of a molehill. The line is now very unclear.”

 

Despite assurances from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office that these measures are not aimed at the general Taiwanese population but rather at an “extremely small number of hard-line independence activists,” many Taiwanese are not convinced. The office has stated that the “vast majority of Taiwanese compatriots have nothing to fear,” yet the prevailing sentiment among Taiwanese is one of caution. The BBC spoke to several Taiwanese individuals living in China who revealed that they were either planning to leave soon or had already left the country. Few were willing to speak on the record, and none wanted to be identified, underscoring the climate of fear and uncertainty that has taken hold.

 

One Taiwanese businesswoman explained the anxiety that now permeates daily life in China: “Any statement you make now could be misinterpreted and you could be reported. Even before this new law, China was already encouraging people to report on others.” This fear was further exacerbated when Chinese authorities recently launched a website listing Taiwanese public figures deemed “die-hard” separatists. The site includes an email address where citizens can report “clues and crimes” about those who have been named or any other individuals suspected of supporting Taiwanese independence.

 

Scholars believe that Beijing’s strategy is similar to the approach it took with Hong Kong’s national security laws, which were ostensibly enacted to maintain stability but have been used to crush the city’s pro-democracy movement. Under these laws, former lawmakers, activists, and ordinary citizens critical of the government have been jailed, leading to a widespread climate of repression. By framing pro-Taiwanese sentiments as a national security threat, Beijing appears to be attempting to “cut off the movement’s ties with the outside world and to divide society in Taiwan between those who support Taiwan independence and those who do not,” according to Prof. Chen, a legal scholar at Taiwan’s Academia Sinica. She further warned that the guidance from the Supreme Court is likely to result in the prosecution of some Taiwanese individuals living in China. “This opinion has been sent to all levels of law enforcement nationwide. So this is a way of saying to them – we want to see more cases like this being prosecuted, so go and find one.”

 

The sense of unease is palpable among Taiwanese nationals residing in China. A Taiwanese man based in Macau shared his concerns, stating that while he had always been prepared for potential threats, the new legal guidance had caused his friends to express concern about his future in the city. He observed that in recent years, patriotic education has become more prevalent in Macau, with increasingly assertive statements on Taiwan contributing to a more tense atmosphere compared to the pre-pandemic era.

 

Taiwan, which maintains strong alliances with the United States, the European Union, and Japan, has consistently rejected Beijing’s plans for “reunification.” However, there is growing fear that Chinese President Xi Jinping has accelerated the timeline for achieving this long-standing goal of the Chinese Communist Party. For more than three decades, Taiwanese companies such as iPhone-maker Foxconn, advanced chip giant TSMC, and electronics behemoth Acer have played a crucial role in China’s economic growth. The prosperity generated by these companies attracted many Taiwanese across the strait in search of jobs and better prospects.

 

Zoe Chu, a Taiwanese woman who spent over a decade living in Shanghai, reminisced about the city’s allure during the mid-2000s. “I absolutely loved Shanghai when I first moved there. It felt so much bigger, more exciting, more cosmopolitan than Taipei,” she said. Chu managed foreign musicians who were in high demand at clubs and venues across China, during a time when Shanghai was booming and attracting talent from around the world. However, by 2019, she had left the city, noting that “China had changed.” Chu, who now works for a medical company in Taipei, expressed no desire to return, stating simply, “I am Taiwanese. It’s no longer safe for us there.”

 

The exodus of Taiwanese from China has been driven by many of the same factors that have led to an outflow of foreigners, including a sluggish economy, escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington, and, most notably, the harsh lockdowns imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Taiwanese nationals have an additional layer of concern: the Chinese government does not view them as “foreigners,” making them particularly vulnerable to state repression.

 

According to senior Taiwanese officials, 15 Taiwanese nationals are currently being held in China for various alleged crimes, including violations of the anti-secession law. In 2019, a Taiwanese businessman was jailed in China for espionage after he was caught taking photos of police officers in Shenzhen—a charge he denied. He was released only last year. In April 2023, China confirmed the arrest of a Taiwan-based publisher on charges of “endangering national security,” and he remains in custody.

 

Amy Hsu, who once lived and worked in China, expressed fear about even visiting the country again due to her current job. After returning to Taiwan, Hsu began volunteering at an NGO that helps people fleeing Hong Kong to settle in Taiwan. “It is definitely more dangerous for me now,” she said, recalling how in 2018, China began using surveillance cameras to fine people for jaywalking, with the system identifying individuals' faces and sending fines directly to their addresses. The extent of surveillance disturbed her, and she worries that the technology could be used to target even visitors, especially those on a list of potential offenders.

 

For some, the situation is more than just a cause for concern; it has become a reason for activism. Robert Tsao, a 77-year-old tech billionaire who founded one of Taiwan’s largest chip-makers, United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), has become a vocal supporter of Taiwanese independence. Although Tsao was born in Beijing, he now avoids not only China but also Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, and Singapore due to his political stance. He believes that the crackdown in Hong Kong was a turning point for him: “It was so free and vibrant and now it’s gone. And they want to do the same to us here.”

Despite the risks, Tsao sees a silver lining in China’s increasingly aggressive stance: “This new ruling is actually helping people like me.” He believes that it will backfire by strengthening the resolve of Taiwanese people to resist China’s attempts at control. “They say the new law will only affect a few hard-line independence supporters like me, but so many Taiwanese people either support independence or the status quo [keep things as they are], which is the same thing, so we have all become criminals.”

 

As China’s rhetoric turns into reality, the implications for Taiwanese nationals are becoming increasingly severe. The criminalization of pro-Taiwanese sentiments is not just a theoretical threat; it is a real and present danger that is forcing many to reconsider their future in China. For those who remain, the risks are higher than ever, as the line between permissible and punishable behavior continues to blur. The situation underscores the growing divide between Beijing and Taipei, with each new measure pushing the two sides further apart. As tensions escalate, the fate of Taiwanese nationals in China hangs in the balance, a testament to the perilous nature of cross-strait relations in an increasingly polarized world.

 

Credit: BBC  2024-08-17

 

 

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[ThaiFelix]

China has the right to defend itself against the evil Taiwan!!  (sound ok? think it will work again?)

[Pouatchee]

7 minutes ago, ThaiFelix said:

China has the right to defend itself against the evil Taiwan!!  (sound ok? think it will work again?)

 

this makes for interesting reading... personally i dont know what to think. both china and taiwan claim the right to rule over the 'whole' of china. do i support taiwan? absolutely yes... but it aint black and white and unfortunately few people really know the history of modern china

 

Quote

-- Does the United Nations recognize Taiwan as a country?

 

Since the adoption of Resolution 2758, the U.N. and its specialized agencies, and also other intergovernmental international organizations have all adhered to it. They regard Taiwan as a province of China's and do not recognize the so-called international representation of the Taiwan authorities.May 17, 2024

 

 

 

-- The US's official policy is to recognize the PRC government as "the sole legal government of China", and "it acknowledged the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China".^[15] While keeping diplomatic relations with the PRC, the US expects that "the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means".^[16][17] The US "would continue to maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan".^[15] According to a 2014 Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, the US administrations have not explicitly stated a position on the political status of Taiwan.^[18]

 

^{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assembly_Resolution_2758_(XXVI)#:~:text=On 21 September 2007%2C the,Taiwan is part of China.}

 

[mfd101]

1 hour ago, Pouatchee said:

this makes for interesting reading... personally i dont know what to think. both china and taiwan claim the right to rule over the 'whole' of china. do i support taiwan? absolutely yes... but it aint black and white and unfortunately few people really know the history of modern china

So what's not black 'n white about the inhabitants of any country or of any part of any country having the right to decide for themselves how they will be governed & by whom?

[Pouatchee]

34 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

So what's not black 'n white about the inhabitants of any country or of any part of any country having the right to decide for themselves how they will be governed & by whom?

 

you dont get it?

taiwan is not officially recognised as a country... they have been deciding for themselves for a while but technically the prc has the final word and that is why they are threatening to take back taiwan... brush up a bit before posting... this is why i gave a bit of a history of china. might want to read it and google a bit

[mfd101]

52 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

you dont get it?

taiwan is not officially recognised as a country... they have been deciding for themselves for a while but technically the prc has the final word and that is why they are threatening to take back taiwan... brush up a bit before posting... this is why i gave a bit of a history of china. might want to read it and google a bit

I did say: "... or of any part of any country ... ". It matters not what one country or its rulers think. In a DEMOCRACY what counts is what the people think.

 

To take an example in my home country Australia: For many years the leaders of the State of Western Australia have from time to time suggested that if the Federal Government in Canberra didn't do something they wanted (usually a larger share of federal government largesse) they might move to make WA an independent country.

 

Such hints or even occasionally even threats have never come to anything but if they did, what then? The INHABITANTS of WA would have to vote clearly in favour of independence. If they did so in a clear & consistent fashion, then - though the effect would be bad for the rest of the country and efforts would doubtless be made to persuade them otherwise - WA would have the right to become independent.

 

Another example is the departure of the UK from the European Community. Bad, stupid, self-defeating etc etc, but it happened because THE PEOPLE voted for it in a referendum after a long campaign of information sharing & debate.

Edited August 17 by mfd101

[Pouatchee]

3 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Such hints or even occasionally even threats have never come to anything but if they did, what then? The INHABITANTS of WA would have to vote clearly in favour of independence. If they did so in a clear & consistent fashion, then - though the effect would be bad for the rest of the country and efforts would doubtless be made to persuade them otherwise - WA would have the right to become independent.

 

 

 

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, Pouatchee said:

 

you dont get it?

taiwan is not officially recognised as a country... they have been deciding for themselves for a while but technically the prc has the final word and that is why they are threatening to take back taiwan... brush up a bit before posting... this is why i gave a bit of a history of china. might want to read it and google a bit

The political history of Taiwan is complex, it has had many masters, and an indigenous population which is not Chinese.

 

Apart from any sentimental reasons, the CCP wants Taiwan because, as a vibrant democracy, it is a propaganda eyesore sitting on China's doorstep.

 

China also wants Taiwan for commercial reasons. It is the world leader in cutting-edge chip design and manufacturing.

 

IMO China is just sabre-rattling, for domestic consumption. It's seen the cock-up Russia has made of invading Ukraine, and that was not across 100 miles of water. The Russians did not have to worry about nuclear submarines either.

 

Then there are sanctions. China is totally dependent on energy and food imports to keep running.

 

The Chinese navy cannot project power more than 500 miles from its coast. One US aircraft carrier stationed at the Straits of Malacca would strangle China in a month.

[placnx]

32 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The political history of Taiwan is complex, it has had many masters, and an indigenous population which is not Chinese.

 

Apart from any sentimental reasons, the CCP wants Taiwan because, as a vibrant democracy, it is a propaganda eyesore sitting on China's doorstep.

 

China also wants Taiwan for commercial reasons. It is the world leader in cutting-edge chip design and manufacturing.

 

IMO China is just sabre-rattling, for domestic consumption. It's seen the cock-up Russia has made of invading Ukraine, and that was not across 100 miles of water. The Russians did not have to worry about nuclear submarines either.

 

Then there are sanctions. China is totally dependent on energy and food imports to keep running.

 

The Chinese navy cannot project power more than 500 miles from its coast. One US aircraft carrier stationed at the Straits of Malacca would strangle China in a month.

I agree with you up to "IMO". Since the Ukraine war, China and Russia are working together to defeat international sanctions. Their fake islands in the South China Sea are quite useful in enforcing a blockade around Taiwan. It is Taiwan that is vulnerable to a lack of food and energy imports.

 

To sanction Chinese exports would disrupt the world economy because China has acquired near monopolies in critical resources, some basic electronics, etc.

[Lacessit]

42 minutes ago, placnx said:

I agree with you up to "IMO". Since the Ukraine war, China and Russia are working together to defeat international sanctions. Their fake islands in the South China Sea are quite useful in enforcing a blockade around Taiwan. It is Taiwan that is vulnerable to a lack of food and energy imports.

 

To sanction Chinese exports would disrupt the world economy because China has acquired near monopolies in critical resources, some basic electronics, etc.

Russia's problem in defeating sanctions is it has very limited pipeline capacity to China, unlike the gas and oil pipelines it had to Europe. It will take 7-10 years to build them across hostile terrain. The Russians don't have the money. That leaves shipping, which is vulnerable. No Western insurer will touch Russian oil cargoes.

 

Nations around the globe are hastily rebuilding their manufacturing and supply chains to reduce their dependence on China.

 

As far as blockading Taiwan goes, the US has nuclear submarines, and much better logistical abilities than the Berlin Airlift, which came as a huge shock to the Russians.

 

The proposition China has near monopolies on materials such as rare earths is a bit of a myth. Rare earths are actually not all that rare, as the attached chart shows.

[Irish star]

On 8/17/2024 at 5:29 PM, Lacessit said:

Russia's problem in defeating sanctions is it has very limited pipeline capacity to China, unlike the gas and oil pipelines it had to Europe. It will take 7-10 years to build them across hostile terrain. The Russians don't have the money. That leaves shipping, which is vulnerable. No Western insurer will touch Russian oil cargoes.

 

Nations around the globe are hastily rebuilding their manufacturing and supply chains to reduce their dependence on China.

 

As far as blockading Taiwan goes, the US has nuclear submarines, and much better logistical abilities than the Berlin Airlift, which came as a huge shock to the Russians.

 

The proposition China has near monopolies on materials such as rare earths is a bit of a myth. Rare earths are actually not all that rare, as the attached chart shows.

They just have a better method of extraction, correct , I heard all old mines have these minerals and there are many mines in USA