Justice must be served to those seeking to divide the nation

The decision by the public security authorities in Fujian province to offer rewards for information on the whereabouts of two notorious "Taiwan independence" agitators underscores the Chinese mainland's firm resolve to safeguard national sovereignty and social stability through law.

On Thursday, the police in Quanzhou issued a notice seeking public assistance in locating two social media influencers from Taiwan island, Wen Tzu-yu, also known as Pa Chiung, and Chen Po-yuan, known as Minnan Wolf, who are leading members of the "troll army" that the secessionist-minded Democratic Progressive Party authorities have painstakingly cultivated to distort public opinion across the Taiwan Strait by spreading hatred and misinformation.

Through their activities, the two wanted men have acted as cyber auxiliaries for the DPP authorities and as the vanguard for some anti-China external forces.

The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council publicly identified Wen and Chen as "Taiwan independence "henchmen and accomplices on March 26.

According to investigations, the two have long been engaged in publishing and spreading inflammatory separatist rhetoric online such as "resisting the Chinese mainland and protecting Taiwan" and "relying on the United States to seek independence", the Quanzhou police notice said. They have also launched malicious attacks and smear campaigns against mainland policies that actually benefit Taiwan residents, and bullied and persecuted mainland spouses living in Taiwan.

On Thursday, the spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Chen Binhua, said that the public security announcement was a concrete measure to lawfully punish offenses involving secession and incitement to secession. It was, he emphasized, a just and necessary response to the strong public demand on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to punish "Taiwan independence" separatists who must be punished according to the law and held accountable for life.

The move represents another solid step in the mainland's broader crackdown against secessionists. In March, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council launched a special online column inviting public reports on heinous acts of persecuting Taiwan compatriots who have links with the mainland.

In October, Xiamen police in Fujian issued a reward notice for 18 core members of the DPP authorities' "psychological warfare brigade", and not long ago, Chongqing police opened a criminal investigation against diehard separatist Shen Paoyang, a Taipei native in his 40s who was put on the list of obstinate "Taiwan independence" separatists by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council in October.

These actions collectively show that the mainland's resolve to uphold justice is not empty talk.

The law-based crackdown on separatist agitators protects those who wish to engage in cross-Strait exchanges without fear, ensures that online platforms are not hijacked by malicious actors, and signals that no one is above the law when it comes to safeguarding China's territorial integrity.

The notice also calls attention to the negative impact of anti-China forces elsewhere in the world.

Following the recent provocative remarks of the Japanese prime minister concerning Taiwan, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday that should Japan dare to resort to force and intervene in the Taiwan Strait, that would constitute an act of aggression, and China would meet it with resolute counteractions.

Japan should immediately cease its interference in China's internal affairs, and halt its provocative and transgressive words and deeds.

The secessionists on the Chinese island as well as their external backers should all heed the stern and solemn warning. Any party, be it from the island or outside of it, will be hoisted with its own petard if it plays with fire on the Taiwan question.

With the public security authorities urging compatriots in Taiwan to clearly recognize the extreme danger and harm of "Taiwan independence "activities, the notice is a clear reminder that reunification will not be derailed by either provocateurs or external China hawks.