China's 'long-arm jurisdiction' an illusion meant to spur fear: Taiwan officials

Taipei. Oct. 30 (CNA) Three agencies of the Taiwan government said Thursday that China is seeking to project an illusion of "long-arm jurisdiction" over Taiwan, in a bid to sow divisions and fear among the people.

That approach is evident in China's efforts to prosecute Taiwanese citizens in absentia for what Beijing calls secessionist activities, the officials of Taiwan's National Security Bureau (NSB), Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said during a legislative session.

They were responding to lawmakers' questions on what actions could be taken in response to a recent report that Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Puma Shen (沈伯洋) was under investigation in China for promoting "Taiwan independence."

According to the report published Tuesday by China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, the lawmaker is being investigated by the Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau on allegations of "secession-related" criminal activities, including launching a civil defense organization called Kuma Academy.

The investigation is being carried out under the terms of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and a set of 2024 judicial guidelines on how to penalize "Taiwan independence separatists," the report said.

On Thursday, the MOFA, NSB, and MAC officials told legislators that such actions by China are meant to "create the illusion of long-arm jurisdiction over Taiwan."

China's aim is to "sow divisions and instill fear" among the people of Taiwan and to further isolate Taiwan on the international stage, the officials said during the hearing in the legislative Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

Noting that China has extradition treaties with more than 60 countries, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said it is not unlikely that China would exert pressure on those countries to deport Taiwanese deemed as criminal suspects to China.

In addition to its "trial in absentia" actions, the PRC could also request that Interpol issue a "red notice" for the arrest of Taiwanese nationals listed as wanted by China, with a view to extradition, Lin said.

In view of those presumptive threats, Taiwan's foreign ministry has asked its overseas missions to strengthen communication with the governments, judicial divisions, and law enforcement authorities of the host countries, he said.

MOFA is also expanding its emergency assistance to Taiwanese travelers, and enhancing intelligence sharing with friendly countries, Lin added.

Meanwhile, MAC Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung (沈有忠)said his agency has issued a travel warning for China, urging Taiwanese to be on high alert over their personal safety.

Since January 2024, he said, 233 Taiwanese have gone missing, have been detained or interrogated, or had their personal liberties restricted in China.

DPP Legislator Shen, who was banned in October 2024 from entering China, Hong Kong, or Macau and listed as a "stubbornly pro-Taiwan independence" individual, said he was being investigated purely for political reasons.

It is likely that ordinary Taiwanese citizens would face similar charges in the future, Shen said during the hearing, noting that extradition treaties in most countries are usually implemented for the return of suspects or convicts in major criminal cases.

In response, MAC Deputy Minister Shen told the DPP lawmaker that his agency is considering tightening entry permit requirements for Chinese officials in charge of Taiwan affairs, given China's actions of targeting a Taiwanese politician.