00:01China's top legislature has just passed a controversial new law aiming to promote what
00:07it calls ethnic unity, effectively assimilating China's 55 recognized minority ethnic groups
00:13around a single national identity. But some say it could also be used against Taiwan.
00:20The law says all Chinese people have a duty to safeguard national unity and national sovereignty
00:27and says anyone who undermines ethnic unity, even those outside of China, may face criminal
00:33liability. It also says anyone carrying out, quote, separatist activities will be prosecuted.
00:41It even mentions Taiwan by name, though only very briefly. Officials say there's a risk the law
00:47could be used to punish Taiwanese people they view as advocating for independence
00:52or challenging China's territorial claims.
01:07Analysts agree that China could extend the law to Taiwanese people.
01:18Analysts agree that China could extend the law to Taiwanese people.
01:49They also say this appears to be part of a larger
01:52trend of China moving to harden its policies against Taiwan, codifying them into law.
01:58This comes after it published formal guidelines imposing harsh punishments on what it calls
02:04die-hard Taiwan separatists in 2024.
02:22So this law, passed as China's largely rubber-stamp legislature was wrapping up an annual meeting,
02:29is raising alarm bells here in Taiwan for how it may be extended beyond China's borders.
02:36Hank Xu and Cadence Quaranta for Taiwan Plus.
02:39Hank Xu and Bradford
02:40TAB
Comments