Authorities bust espionage networks of Taiwan separatists

The national security agencies have successfully uncovered over a thousand cases of espionage and theft of secrets by Taiwan spies, dismantling a number of espionage networks established within the mainland, as announced by the Ministry of State Security on Tuesday.

The authorities have also taken resolute actions to promptly thwart the schemes of "Taiwan independence" separatist forces colluding with external powers to provoke disturbances. This has effectively countered foreign interference in the situation across the Taiwan Strait and meddling in Taiwan-related matters, the ministry stated.

The ministry noted that the authorities have also lawfully punished acts of separatism and "Taiwan independence". "Taiwan independence" separatists such as Yang Chih-yuan have been apprehended and investigated, and the enforcement of criminal responsibility against the separatists for suspected crimes of separatism has served as a strong deterrent to the separatist forces.

On June 21, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, and the Ministry of Justice jointly issued a set of guidelines on imposing criminal penalties on staunch supporters of "Taiwan independence" for engaging in or inciting separatist activities, providing a sound legal basis for punishing separatists.

Additionally, last week, the websites of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Public Security launched new sections on the lawful punishment of die-hard "Taiwan independence" separatists.