Taiwan denounces threats against DPP lawmaker

Taipei, Jan. 3 (CNA) Taiwanese authorities on Saturday condemned actions they said were intended to intimidate Taiwan's democratic society, after a Weibo post sharing satellite images of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Puma Shen's (沈伯洋) home and workplace was circulated by Chinese media platforms.

The post, made by a Chinese Weibo user on Thursday, also threatened to have Shen arrested for "secession" and solicited tips from the public. It was quickly circulated by various Chinese media, including Straits Today (今日海峽) and Straits Headlines (兩岸頭條), which is affiliated with the state-run Taiwan.cn.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the actions violated international conventions and infringed on personal privacy, accusing China of attempting to create fear and a chilling effect in Taiwan's democratic society.

The ministry also called on the international community to jointly condemn China's violations of human rights and personal privacy and to prevent the abuse of extraterritorial authority and cross-border repression.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, and the latter has no jurisdiction over the people of Taiwan, the ministry added.

In a separate statement, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) condemned Chinese authorities for allowing such harmful content online to be published and said it should be removed.

"If China continues to act recklessly and escalate its intimidation of the Taiwanese people, we will have no choice but to respond by reviewing all cross-strait exchanges," the MAC warned.

Meanwhile, the National Police Agency said it will step up security measures to protect Shen's personal safety and the security of his residence, ensuring he can continue performing his duties as a lawmaker.

The agency assured the public that they can go about their daily lives, as police will continue to safeguard citizens and maintain public order.

Shen downplayed the threats, saying they were a classic tactic by China to divide Taiwanese society and intimidate the public. He added that, as Taiwan's people become increasingly aware of such moves, like China's recent military drills, their impact is steadily diminishing.

Responding to the satellite images, the DPP lawmaker said China was waiting for him to panic, adding that this psychological tactic has no effect in Taiwan, noting that such locations are readily accessible through publicly available satellite imagery.