Report: Blacklist to target secessionists

The Chinese mainland is formulating a blacklist of "Taiwan independence" secessionists who will be held accountable for their actions for life, according to a report by Ta Kung Pao, a Chinese-language newspaper published in Hong Kong.

"Strict sanctions" and other measures will be pursued against "stubborn secessionists" who make blatant statements or engage in vicious acts seeking "Taiwan independence" and their financial backers, the newspaper reported on Sunday, citing an anonymous authority.

The secessionists will be brought to justice in accordance with the Anti-Secession Law, the Criminal Law and the National Security Law and they will be held accountable for life, the report said.

Li Zhenguang, a professor at the Institute of Taiwan Studies at Beijing Union University, said those politicians on the island who have declared their "Taiwan independence" stance in public are most likely to be included in the blacklist.

Li said examples are Lai Chingte, deputy leader of Taiwan, who has explicitly declared himself a "worker for Taiwan independence" and said the island is "an independent country", Su Tseng-chang, chief of the island's executive body and Yu Shyi-kun, head of the island's "legislative yuan", who have blatantly promoted "Taiwan independence".

Those who support Taiwan secessionists politically or economically will also be affected, including some executives who run businesses on the mainland but provide funds for secessionists on the island, Li said.

"Although the move is aimed at a small number of stubborn secessionists, and ordinary people in Taiwan are not included, it's time for people in Taiwan to think seriously about whether they support 'Taiwan independence'," he added.

Being highly vigilant and resolute in containing separatist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence" has been written in the Party leadership's proposals for formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035.

"It means that for a long time, it will become an important part of the mainland's work with Taiwan to resolutely and effectively contain the secession of 'Taiwan independence'," Li said.

"The mainland will make full preparations to resist secessionist acts, but also take practical measures to respond to and strike at provocations of 'Taiwan independence'," he added.