Taiwanese authorities have expressed concern over China’s new Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law, suggesting it could extend Beijing’s reach to silence overseas critics. The legislation, effective this week, mandates that all Chinese citizens uphold national unity. It also permits legal proceedings against those accused of fostering division, irrespective of their location, potentially widening China’s influence beyond its borders.
As described by a Taiwanese security official, China employs five primary tactics for transnational repression. These include criminalizing dissenting speech made abroad, intimidating critics by threatening their families, leveraging international legal frameworks such as Interpol red notices to track down dissidents, branding pro-democracy advocates as extremists, and conducting abductions or forced repatriations.
The official further claimed that China operates clandestine police stations overseas with the purpose of monitoring and exerting pressure on its critics in other countries. This activity has sparked concerns about possible breaches of international laws and diplomatic protocols.
In response, Taiwan is taking steps to raise awareness among its citizens about the potential risks of traveling to China. The government is also bolstering its measures to prevent foreign interference and counter actions that support such activities.