TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) blasted China’s release of an additional guideline on “Punishing Stubborn Taiwan Independence Elements” on Wednesday (Aug. 7).

China is preventing the positive development of healthy cross-strait exchanges, MAC said, per Liberty Times.  Beijing should pursue policies that “are conducive to positive interactions between both sides,” it added.

In its new guideline, China listed 10 previously blacklisted Taiwanese, including Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and Joseph Wu (吳釗燮). Beijing previously issued a document in June listing the legal procedures for dealing with Taiwan Independence supporters. One of the provisions called for the death penalty for those found guilty of “splitting the country.” Other punishments include life or fixed-term imprisonment of more than 10 years.

MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said on Tuesday that China has been waging legal wars against Taiwan since it passed the Anti-Secession Law in 2005. Beijing has no jurisdiction over Taiwanese, Chiu added.