MAC warns of danger for travelers to Hong Kong, Macao, China
In response to the Hong Kong national security law issued by the government of the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has set up an online registration system for nationals traveling to Hong Kong, Macao, and China.
The MAC website lists groups at high risk of “being disappeared,” including people who have expressed solidarity with Taiwan independence, Hong Kong independence, Tibet independence, and Xinjiang independence. Also at risk are critics of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the government of the PRC, the Hong Kong government, the “one country two systems” policy, and anyone who has shown support, or donated money or materials, or participated in the anti-extradition law amendment protests.
The MAC stressed that the CCP has implemented the law as a tool for the authorities to punish dissidents and that anyone could become the next Li Ming-che, referring to a Taiwanese democracy activist who “disappeared” while traveling in China in March, 2017, and is now being held in a prison in Hunan Province.
The MAC pointed out that the Hong Kong national security law is not only aimed at people and organizations in Hong Kong, but also foreigners across the world. In addition, the monitoring, searching, and investigation of cases does not require the consent of a court, and the CCP has complete authority to interpret the law. “If the CCP says you are guilty: then you are guilty.”
The MAC said that actions that could be deemed illegal by the CCP is not limited, crimes are ambiguously defined, and may include such acts as a Facebook like, joining an online community, transmitting messages on the Internet, wearing slogans, carrying a flag, etc.
The MAC website lists a range of actions that may put people in danger of arrest in CCP controlled territories. For activities in support of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjiang, or Tibetan independence, actions such as holding, waving, or displaying related flags, wearing clothing, holding printed signs, or shouting slogans could lead to imprisonment for more than 5 years, and less than 10 years.
Publishing, reprinting, or supporting relevant comments on the Internet: imprisonment for more than 5 years, less than 10 years.
See range of possible crimes and punishment on MAC website (Chinese language).
Sources: Liberty Times, Mainland Affairs Council.
Taiwan English News is an independent publication with no corporate funding. If you found this article informative, and would like to support my work, please buy me a coffee or support me on Patreon. Subscribe to Taiwan English News for free to receive the latest news via email. Advertising queries are welcome. Share, like, comment below.