Chinese authorities on Friday released a set of guidelines on imposing criminal penalties on staunch supporters of "Taiwan independence" for engaging in or inciting separatist activities, with trial in absentia granted when necessary.
The guidelines, jointly issued by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the ministries of public security, state security, and justice, come into effect upon their publication.
The guidelines are made to legally punish individuals involved in separatist activities and inciting crimes of splitting the country, in order to effectively safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a news conference in Beijing on Friday that the current situation in the Taiwan Strait is complex and severe, and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities persist stubbornly in their "Taiwan independence" separatist stance, attempting to seek "independence" through external support and military means.
"This flagrantly goes against mainstream public opinion on the island, seriously disrupts peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and gravely undermines the country's sovereignty, security and development interests," Chen said.
"We will not tolerate, appease or turn a blind eye to such behavior. We must take countermeasures and impose punishments," he said.
Ma Yan, a member of the judicial committee of the Supreme People's Court, said that the document provides clear guidance for the judicial handling of such cases, and all departments will strictly enforce the guidelines to resolutely and lawfully punish separatists.
The guidelines define criminal acts of splitting the country as including initiating or establishing"Taiwan independence" separatist organizations, implementing separatist actions, and attempting to change Taiwan's legal status as part of China through amendments to Taiwan's regulations or "referendums".
The guidelines state that such criminal acts include advocating for Taiwan's entry into international organizations limited to sovereign states or engaging in official exchanges and military contacts abroad to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" in the international community.
Criminal behavior also encompasses distorting or falsifying facts about Taiwan being a part of China in fields such as education, culture, history and the media, or suppressing political parties, groups or individuals supporting peaceful cross-Strait relations and national unity, according to the document.
For ringleaders or those committing significant crimes, life imprisonment or a term of imprisonment of more than 10 years can be imposed, with the possibility of the death penalty for those causing particularly severe harm to the country and the people, it said.
Active participants may face imprisonment ranging from three to 10 years, while others involved may receive sentences of up to three years, detention, control, or deprivation of political rights, it added.
For cases requiring a prompt trial, with conditions for the application of absentee trial procedures, a trial should be scheduled, the document said.
Chen, the spokesman, said that imposing criminal punishments on die-hard separatists and safeguarding core national interests is a common practice in countries around the world.
The guidelines indicate that criminal punishment measures target only a very small number of individuals whose behavior is egregious and whose separatist activities are rampant, as well as the crimes of secession and incitement to secession they commit, he said, adding that "this does not involve the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots".
Separately, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday that China has decided to take countermeasures against entities and senior executives of the missile company Lockheed Martin after the United States recently once again announced the sale of weapons to the Taiwan region.
The measures include freezing the company's properties.