CNN —China on Friday threatened to impose the death penalty in extreme cases for “diehard” Taiwan independence separatists, a ratcheting up of pressure even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction on the democratically governed island.
The guidelines are being issued in accordance with laws already on the books, including the 2005 anti-succession law, Xinhua said.
That law gives China the legal basis for military action against Taiwan if it secedes or seems about to.
Sun Ping, an official from China’s Ministry of Public Security, told reporters in Beijing the maximum penalty for the “crime of secession” was the death penalty.
Such punishments have little practical effect as Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
Persons:
Lai Ching, ”, Lai, Sun Ping, Hsiao
Organizations:
CNN, diehard, Xinhua, China’s Ministry of Public Security, Reuters, Senior
Locations:
China, Taiwan, Beijing, United States