China's Law on Ethnic Unity Takes Effect; National Security Officials Vow to Enhance Early Warning and Prevent Transnational Repression

(CNA) Taipei, July 1st - China's "Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress" took effect on July 1st. National security officials stated today that the government will continue to strengthen risk alerts for citizens traveling to China and enhance their media literacy. Simultaneously, they are researching the establishment of a mechanism to prevent and block collaborators in transnational repression and deepen cooperation with democratic countries to jointly curb China's cross-border law enforcement and transnational repression.

China passed the "Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress" on March 12th of this year, and it was officially implemented on July 1st. The law consists of 7 chapters and 65 articles, covering education, language, publishing, the internet, business activities, and religion, and involves Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese. The purpose of enacting this law is to "forge a strong sense of common destiny for the Chinese nation" and it mentions that China adheres to and improves the system of ethnic regional autonomy, safeguarding national unity and ethnic solidarity.

China's "Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress" officially came into effect today. The public is concerned about whether the government has established early warning and protection mechanisms to reduce the risk of citizens being subjected to transnational repression. National security officials stated that the government will focus on three major directions: enhancing citizens' risk literacy, strengthening domestic protective measures, and deepening international cooperation to help citizens reduce the risks associated with traveling to China and engaging in cross-border activities.

National security officials pointed out that in recent weeks, relevant ministries and agencies, including the Mainland Affairs Council, have successively reminded the public to pay attention to the risks of traveling to and engaging in exchanges in China. Such information will continue to be released in the future. In fact, some of China's transnational repression tactics have occurred in the past, and the government has long been raising public awareness of related risks through publicity.

National security officials stated that citizens traveling to China should be vigilant. In addition to travel safety, they must also be aware that their personal digital data and social media content may be inspected. For example, if a mobile phone contains content supporting Taiwan, discussing public affairs, or involving sensitive issues such as Xinjiang, Tibet, or Hong Kong, it may be used by Chinese law enforcement personnel as a basis for judgment, increasing legal risks.

National security officials reminded religious figures engaging in religious exchanges in China to fully understand the legal restrictions in the local area. China has long prohibited overseas religious groups from engaging in religious ceremonies such as evangelism, baptism, and ordination within its borders. Restrictions may apply to Christianity, Buddhism, Yiguandao, and others. Failure to understand relevant regulations may increase the risk of investigation and punishment. Religious groups also have a responsibility to fully inform their followers of the legal risks they may face when engaging in exchanges in China.

In addition to continuous publicity, national security officials stated that the government is paying attention to potential collaborator networks for transnational repression within Taiwan. Transnational repression often relies on collaborators within democratic countries to exert influence, including cooperating in spreading specific information, smearing specific individuals, or even linking funds and organizational operations to create cross-border pressure.

National security officials explained that currently, many democratic countries, including Taiwan, are researching how to establish mechanisms to prevent and block collaborators in transnational repression through legal systems, administrative measures, and inter-agency cooperation. They are developing more comprehensive preventive measures regarding fund flows, organizational connections, and information manipulation to enhance deterrence.

National security officials pointed out that in addition to domestic institutional development, cooperation among democratic countries is equally important. Since transnational repression involves violations of sovereign equality, international law, and multiple international conventions, only through joint cooperation with like-minded countries can the influence of China's cross-border law enforcement and transnational repression be effectively limited.

National security officials stated that at the recent "Global Cooperation and Training Framework" (GCTF) meeting, transnational repression became an important issue of common concern for various countries. Taiwan will continue to exchange and cooperate with democratic partners in the future to jointly build a more comprehensive protection network and reduce the space for China to exert pressure on democratic societies through legal and cross-border means.border means. (Editor: Lin Ke-lun, Yang Kai-hsiang) 1150701

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