"Supreme Death Penalty" Offensive... Taiwan Raises China Travel Alert Level

"Do Not Go Unless Absolutely Necessary"

Taiwan authorities raised the travel alert for China on the 26th (local time), according to major foreign media reports. The authorities urged their citizens "not to go to China unless absolutely necessary."

According to the reports, Liang Yuanjie, spokesperson for Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, told reporters that this travel alert upgrade applies not only to China but also to Hong Kong and Macau. The Mainland Affairs Council is Taiwan's agency responsible for matters related to mainland China.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This measure is interpreted as a counteraction against China's issuance of criminal punishment guidelines that could impose the death penalty on Taiwan independence activists. Previously, China announced guidelines stating that Chinese courts, prosecutors, and security agencies would strictly punish Taiwan independence activists to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. This is seen as an offensive targeting Lai Ching-te's Taiwan presidential administration, which has a clear anti-China stance.

Regarding these guidelines, China's Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council has not issued a separate statement, the media reported.