Thwarting Taiwan secessionists safeguards peace, official says

Thwarting "Taiwan independence" secessionists safeguards peace across the Taiwan Straits, a Chinese mainland spokeswoman said on Wednesday when asked to confirm the mainland is creating a blacklist of "Taiwan independence" secessionists.

The secessionists seeking "Taiwan independence" who are on the list 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" as well as 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.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the secessionists and their activities are the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and the biggest obstacle to the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

"A small number of stubborn secessionists and their acts of openly provoking the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity will never be tolerated. They and their supporters, including financial backers, should be thwarted in accordance with law," Zhu said.

The purpose is to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and the interests of compatriots on both sides. The legitimate rights of Taiwan residents will be fully safeguarded, she said.

"Taiwan independence" is a deadend road that will only bring disaster to our compatriots in Taiwan. The reunification of the mainland and the island is an irresistible trend," Zhu said.

"All the secessionists will be condemned by people and punished by history," she said.