China’s ethnic unity law sparks response from Taiwan amid fears of cross-border repression

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Taipei: Taiwan has strongly criticised China’s newly enforced “Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law,” describing it as another example of Beijing’s authoritarian governance. Furthermore, it warns that the legislation could be used to justify political pressure beyond China’s borders. This warning was reported by The Taipei Times.

According to The Taipei Times, speaking after the law came into force, Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai announced that the government would establish a Cabinet-level interagency platform to coordinate responses to cases of alleged transnational repression. He added that the government would strengthen measures to protect Taiwan’s national security. Moreover, he stated it would safeguard the democratic system.

The law, approved by China’s National People’s Congress in March and effective from July 3, emphasises national unity. It also allows legal action against individuals or organisations, inside or outside China, accused of undermining ethnic unity or encouraging ethnic division. However, the legislation does not clearly define what actions constitute such offences. This raises concerns about its broad scope. Premier Cho said Taiwan’s response would focus on three areas: prevention, protection, and countermeasures.

He tasked ministers without portfolio Ma Yung-cheng and Lin Min-hsin with creating a cross-government coordination mechanism. This mechanism will involve agencies including the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).

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Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs would also expand cooperation with like-minded countries. This aims to counter what Taipei views as Beijing’s growing cross-border influence. The Mainland Affairs Council argued that the legislation is designed to advance Beijing’s political agenda through what it described as “unification by law,” “forced unification,” and “transnational repression,” as highlighted by The Taipei Times.

The council said the measure effectively seeks to impose an obligation on Taiwanese people to accept unification with China under the banner of ethnic solidarity. It called it a “unification law” disguised as legislation promoting unity.

Reaffirming Taiwan’s position, the council stated that Taiwan is an independent sovereign state. It rejected what it described as Beijing’s attempt to use legal instruments to erode Taiwan’s autonomy, as reported by The Taipei Times.

(ANI)

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