MOFA warns of travel risks in China-friendly countries

Taipei, March 8 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Saturday urged Taiwanese nationals to be aware of their safety when traveling abroad, especially in countries that are friendly with China.

A Reuters report on Friday cited a memo by the Taiwanese government as well as an anonymous senior Taiwan security official, saying that a senior Chinese official instructed national security units to implement guidelines to "punish" Taiwan independence supporters in countries friendly to China.

Answering CNA's queries, MOFA said that it has instructed embassies and overseas offices to evaluate relevant risks.

It will also step up efforts to remind the public to be aware of their safety.

MOFA said Beijing has been waging legal warfare, cognitive warfare and implementing gray-zone tactics to coerce and threaten Taiwan in recent years.

Its attempts to cage Taiwan's democracy and freedom with the guidelines and punish Taiwan independence activists have raised concerns from the global community and elicited strict criticism, MOFA said.

The Reuters report said that Taiwanese security units are considering raising travel alert levels for such countries.

According to the Taiwanese official cited by Reuters, these countries include Cambodia, Laos and some unspecified African nations.

The official told Reuters that Taiwanese in these countries may be investigated or detained on suspicions of supporting Taiwan independence.

"They may be taken for questioning by the local or Chinese police," Reuters cited the official as saying, even if only to "psychologically intimidate" them.