Firm action urged to stop separatism

China's top legislator Zhao Leji on Friday stressed resolutely combating "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, curbing interference by external forces and advancing the cause of national reunification.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, made the remarks at a symposium in Beijing marking the 20th anniversary of the enforcement of the Anti-Secession Law.

The Anti-Secession Law, adopted at the third session of the 10th NPC in 2005, stipulates that the State shall never allow "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces to make Taiwan secede from China under any name or by any means. It entitles the State to take non-peaceful measures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity when all possible means of peaceful national reunification are exhausted.

Zhao, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that over the past 20 years, and especially since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, the Chinese mainland has comprehensively implemented the law, firmly grasping the initiative and dominance in cross-Strait relations.

The mainland has further enriched the institutional system of punishing separatism, effectively safeguarded the one-China principle, and made progress in promoting anti-separatism and reunification efforts, he said.

Song Tao, who heads both the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, denounced the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan which have long relied on external forces to seek separatism.

"Such actions seriously undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, harming the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots, and jeopardizing national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.

Efforts have been made to resolutely thwart their separatist attempts, Song stressed, citing the judicial guidelines issued last year on imposing criminal penalties on diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists and the list of "Taiwan independence" diehards announced by the mainland.

He reiterated that the mainland will continue to strengthen the fact that both sides of the strait belong to one China through law enforcement, and regardless of changes in the situation in the Taiwan Strait, the one-China principle cannot be challenged.

Huang Ching-hsien, a representative of Taiwan compatriots at the symposium and a professor of Taiwan political studies at Nankai University, said: "Achieving reunification is an internal matter, and the Chinese on both sides have the ability and wisdom to properly resolve it."

As the current situation in the Taiwan Strait faces compounded risks, in order to ensure the well-being and livelihood of Taiwan compatriots, he said that efforts should be made to create opportunities for national reunification through exchanges, to prevent Taiwan from falling into the danger of war and turmoil.

People across the Strait condemned the separatist stance of Taiwan's leader, Lai Ching-te, after he described Taiwan as a "sovereign country" and referred to the mainland as "foreign hostile forces" in a speech after a so-called "national security meeting" on Thursday.

In the speech, Lai also outlined 17 "strategies" to counter so-called "threats" from the mainland. These include restoring the military trial system to handle cases involving "espionage", enhancing scrutiny of Taiwan residents applying for identification documents in the mainland, and raising public awareness about "risks" associated with mainland travel.

Ma Ying-jeou, a former leader of Taiwan, said on his social media account that Lai openly regarding the mainland as "foreign hostile forces" violated the legal position on cross-Strait relations and could lead cross-Strait relations into an uncharted crisis.

Ma said it was an "administrative dictatorship" to restrict Taiwan residents' freedom to travel to the mainland for exchanges, which is protected by laws and regulations.

He urged Lai to retract his statements, engage in peaceful dialogue with the mainland, and avoid subjecting Taiwan residents to injustice and hardship.

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said, "Lai's obstinate separatist stance and his rampant provocation and confrontation once again prove that he is a 'destroyer of cross-Strait peace' and a 'creator of crisis in the Taiwan Strait'."

Lai is intensifying terror on the island by suppressing political dissent, inciting anti-China sentiment, escalating cross-Strait confrontation, and forcibly promoting decoupling and severing supply chains between the two sides, Chen said.

These actions are aimed at his separatist agenda, diverting attention from internal contradictions and alleviating his governance predicament, he said.

"If the separatist forces dare to cross the red line, the mainland will have to take resolute measures," he added.