Conflicts & War

China detains Taiwanese for ‘endangering national security’

Beijing, Aug 4 (EFE).- A Taiwanese citizen has been detained in the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou for “engaging in separatist activities and endangering national security,” the state-run media reported on Thursday.

Yang Chih-yuan, according to the official Xinhua news agency, had long sought independence for the self-governed island and was detained on Wednesday.

Yang, who was born in the 1990s in Taichung in central Taiwan, had allegedly been attempting to establish “an illegal organization with the aim to push for Taiwan to become a sovereign state and join the United Nations,” said the news agency.

He is also suspected of planning and carrying out “separatist activities” for Taiwan and faces charges of “splitting the country and inciting others to do so.”

The Taiwan affairs ministry of the Chinese government Wednesday warned of punishing “die-hard Taiwan independence elements” who have “recklessly carried out separatist activities, served as pawns for external anti-China forces.

“Their separatist acts and remarks are flagrant provocations against China’s national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the sanctity of law. They have also severely jeopardized the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the ministry said.

“Any individual or organization that…engages in activities jeopardizing national security shall be investigated…convicted and punished for secession.”

The ministry spokesperson, Ma Xiaoguang, accused Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of “actively solicit(ing) foreign support and deeply engag(ing) in provocative actions.

The harsh remarks against pro-independence Taiwan leaders and the subsequent arrest of the Taiwanese citizen came amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait following a controversial visit to the island by United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Pelosi’s visit has enraged Beijing.

The spokesperson said the US had “been constantly fueling the tensions in an attempt to use Taiwan to contain China.”

“There is no denying that the DPP authorities and the United States are the ones who seek to instigate cross-Straits confrontations, disrupt peace and stability across the Straits, and damage the interests of the Taiwan people,” the spokesperson said.

China considers Taiwan a broke-away province since the Kuomintang nationalists withdrew there in 1949 after losing the civil war against the communists.

Tensions have risen across the Taiwan Strait in the past year, with the number of Chinese aircraft allegedly violating Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.

Taiwanese President Tsai has admitted that the US has a military presence on the island that Beijing called a “provocation.” EFE

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