Taiwan urges China to reconsider action amid reports of “radical independence separatists”

Taipei has urged Beijing to reconsider its actions after China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) announced that it had received multiple reports on individuals labeled as “radical Taiwan independence separatists”.

“No matter how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) investigates, wrong actions will only lead to wrong results,” Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), the top government agency that handles cross-Strait affairs on behalf of Taiwan, said on Wednesday. Will be the same,” Focus Taiwan reported.

It added, “We urge the CCP to step back before it is too late and promote positive cross-Strait interaction as the right approach.”

The MAC issued its statement in response to previous comments by Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the TAO, the Chinese government agency responsible for cross-Strait relations.

According to Focus Taiwan, Chen announced that after creating a reporting system for “radical Taiwan independence separatists”, the agency had received “hundreds of tips” from individuals on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The TAO spokesperson also said that Chinese government agencies would “thoroughly verify and investigate” these reports.

Chen was referring to a page on TAO’s official website listing 12 “hardcore Taiwan independence separatists”.

The list includes Taiwan’s current Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, the highest-ranking official, along with Taiwanese businessman Robert Tsao and Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Puma Shen, Focus Taiwan reports.

Referring to the inclusion of Tsao and Shen on the October 14 public list, Chen said that “punishing” these individuals is “an appropriate action” that can “uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as protect the people.” It can also protect the essential interests of the Both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”

In turn, the MAC rejected the significance of the “Taiwan Independence List”, saying it had no real meaning regardless of the number of names included.