China warns Taiwan independence ‘diehards’ with death sentence

China has said that "diehard" Taiwan independence rebels could face the death sentence in the worst cases. It is meant to put more pressure on Taiwan, even though Chinese courts don't have authority over the freely run island.

According to China, Taiwan is part of its own country. China has made it clear that it doesn't like President Lai Ching-te, who took office last month, calling him "separatist" and holding war games soon after his introduction.

Since Lai won the election in January, China has been putting more pressure on Taiwan through military moves, trade bans, and coast guard patrols around islands next to China that Taiwan holds.

A report from China's state-run Xinhua news agency says the new rules say that the country's courts, prosecutors, public and state security bodies should "severely punish Taiwan independence diehards for splitting the country and inciting secession crimes by the law" and "resolutely defend national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity."

Xinhua said that the warning Beijing released on Friday said that "ringleaders" of independence movements who "cause severe harm to the state and the people" would be put to death.

Some of the most important supporters could get ten years to life in prison.

Xinhua said the new rules, which go into effect on Friday, were made in line with laws already in place, such as the 2005 anti-secession law.

China can use this rule as a reason to attack Taiwan militarily if it breaks away or looks like it might.

A public safety official in China named Sun Ping told reporters in Beijing that the death sentence was the harshest punishment for the "crime of secession."

"The sharp sword of the law will always be hung high," she said.

The Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan spoke out against Beijing's action and told its people not to be afraid of China.

"The Beijing government has no control over Taiwan at all, and the Chinese communists' so-called laws and rules do not apply to our people," it said in a statement on Friday.

"The Chinese Communist Party shouldn't make the people of our country feel threatened or scared, the government says."

The rules spell out what crimes should be punished, such as pushing for Taiwan to join international organizations that require states to be members, having "external official exchanges," and "suppressing" parties, groups, and individuals that support "reunification."

The guidelines add "other acts that seek to separate Taiwan from China" to the list of things that could be illegal. It means that the rules can be read in many different ways.

Lai has often offered to talk to China, but China has repeatedly turned him down. His words mean that only the people of Taiwan can choose their path.

China has taken legal action against Taiwanese leaders in the past. For example, Hsiao Bi-khim, who is now vice-president of Taiwan and used to be the island's de facto ambassador to the US, was sanctioned by China.

These punishments don't work because Chinese courts need power in Taiwan. After all, that country's government doesn't accept Beijing's claims to authority. Taiwan's top leaders, including its president, don't go to China.