Nothing to fear if you do not break law: China tells Taiwanese staff of multinational firms
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Employees working on the assembly line at Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn's plant in Shenzhen, China.
PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
Follow topic:
BEIJING - Taiwanese employees of multinational companies in China have nothing to fear as long as they do not break the law, the Chinese government said on July 24, following new legal guidelines that mandate execution in extreme cases for “die-hard” separatists.
China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, issued the new guidelines after President Lai Ching-te took office in May.
Beijing has made no secret of its dislike of Mr Lai, calling him a “separatist”.
Some foreign companies are considering moving their Taiwanese employees out of China, sources have previously told Reuters.
Speaking at a regular news briefing, Ms Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, reiterated there was no cause for alarm for most Taiwanese, and directly addressed the issue of those working for foreign companies.
“The majority of Taiwan compatriots, including Taiwanese employees working in multinational companies, can be completely at ease in the mainland, as long as they do not engage in criminal acts,” she said, referring to the new guidelines.
Taiwan’s government raised its travel warning for China after the guidelines were issued, saying people should go there only if absolutely necessary, sparking anger from Beijing.
“Taiwanese people who visited the mainland know full well there is absolutely no travel risk,” Ms Zhu added.
China has vowed to go after people it views as Taiwan separatists wherever they may be, although Chinese courts have no jurisdiction in Taiwan or the ability to enforce judgments there.
Mr Lai rejects China’s sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan’s people can decide their future. He has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing but has been rebuffed. REUTERS
