Tipoffs lead to legal action against Taiwan separatists

A Chinese mainland spokesperson said on Wednesday that hundreds of tipoffs have been received regarding "stubborn Taiwan independence separatists", emphasizing that the resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity remains rock-solid.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks during a news conference on Wednesday in response to a question about the office's announcement on Monday.

It announced on Monday that based on the tipoffs received from the public via a dedicated email address, legal action had been taken against two Taiwan separatists and an organization involved in "Taiwan independence" activities.

Chen noted that since the establishment of the reporting email for "Taiwan independence" diehards, people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait have been submitting tips.

"So far, hundreds of leads have been received," he said.

On Monday, Chen announced that after thorough verification of the information reported, the office decided to impose punitive measures against two secessionists, Shen Pao-yang and Tsao Hsing-cheng, as well as an organization called the Kuma Academy that promotes a prewar mentality in Taiwan, for advocating "Taiwan independence".

The spokesman said at the news conference that this punishment is a just response to the demands of people across the Strait and serves as a powerful sanction against the provocations of separatist forces.

"Our determination to safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity is unshakable, and our resolve to crush all separatist attempts by 'Taiwan independence' forces is unwavering and invincible," he said.

The mainland will continue to legally punish staunch supporters of "Taiwan independence" for the crimes of splitting the nation and inciting secession, Chen said, adding that those who persist in their provocations will pay a heavy price.

At the news conference, the spokesperson also refuted remarks made by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te in his speech on Oct 10th, in which he claimed that the People's Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan and called for deepening Taiwan's cooperation with the international community.

Chen said that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.

"A series of international legal documents, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, have affirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan," he said, listing several widely recognized historical facts.

On Oct 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China was established, replacing the government of the Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing all of China, he said.

In 1971, the 26th United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2758 which, under the premise of recognizing Taiwan as part of China, restored the representative rights and seat of China, including Taiwan, to the government of the People's Republic of China, Chen noted.

"Taiwan's status as part of China has never changed and is impossible to change," he stressed. "The People's Republic of China naturally represents Taiwan and has always represented Taiwan."

Chen emphasized that Lai's attempt to pit China against Taiwan is an unequivocal expression of separatism.

The mainland official pointed out that Lai's advocacy for so-called cooperation with the international community is an attempt to seek "independence" by relying on external forces, creating "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" on the international stage.

"We hope the international community will not be misled or deceived by Lai, and will recognize his true intentions of seeking 'Taiwan independence' and recklessly attempting to challenge the post-World War II international order," Chen said.