TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) deputy head and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) on Monday (July 1) said a Taiwanese businessman has been accused of violating China's National Security Law and advised Taiwanese to exercise caution when considering visiting China.
On June 21, the MAC raised the travel advisory for China from yellow to orange, advising citizens to assess the risks before traveling after Beijing issued “22 Opinions" on punishing Taiwan independence activists. On Monday, Liang said he had recently been informed that a Taiwanese businessman had been accused of violating Beijing's National Security Law.
Liang said the reason for the violation is unknown. He advised travelers to exercise extra caution when visiting China.
During an interview with Pop Radio, Huang Wei-han (黃暐瀚) asked Liang to elaborate on the implications of the MAC's new China travel alert. Liang said the warning reminds those working in China of the Anti-espionage Law and National Security Law.
Liang cited examples of Taiwanese politician Yang Chih-yuan (楊智淵) and Taiwan-based Chinese publisher Li Yen-he (李延賀), better known as Fucha (富察), who were arrested on charges of secession in China. Liang said both were arrested for alleged actions taken outside of China.
He emphasized that the government's responsibility is to point out such dangers, but he also stressed that the upgrade of the travel advisory does not restrict travel.
Liang said in Fucha's case, his parents are in China and he often goes back to visit relatives. Fucha did not think it would be dangerous to go back to China, but he was arrested when he went back in March last year, said Liang.
According to Liang, Gusa Press (八旗文化), where Fucha works, released a publication that is “not in line with the Chinese Communist Party's view of history” discussing topics such as whether Xinjiang and Taiwan have been part of China since ancient times. Despite publishing the work in Taiwan, Fucha was charged in China with inciting secession.
Liang said China has repeatedly claimed that the 22 Opinions will only apply to a “tiny number” of “diehard Taiwan independence separatists.” Liang said these opinions attempt to define the crimes of secession and inciting secession, but in practice, they remain ambiguous.
Liang emphasized that based on history, China's references to a “tiny number” cannot be trusted. During Mao Zedong's (毛澤東) Anti-Rightist Campaign, China initially said only about 4,000 rightists would be identified nationwide, but in the end, approximately 550,000 people were labeled as rightists and sent to labor camps.
“The so-called 'tiny number' should be taken with a grain of salt,” said Liang.
