Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Wednesday responded to recent claims from China's Ministry of State Security that they have discovered more than 1,000 cases of Taiwanese espionage.
The MAC warned that if these claims are not exaggerations, they may signal China's misuse of vague laws to detain Taiwanese citizens who support democracy and freedom. The MAC reiterated the importance of recognizing the high risks associated with China's authoritarian regime, which lacks legal and civilized protections for human rights. The council also urged Taiwanese citizens to carefully assess the risks before traveling to China.
The council says that while China promotes cross-strait exchanges, it simultaneously engages in indiscriminate arrests of Taiwanese people, exposing the contradictions in its Taiwan policy and hindering positive cross-strait interactions.
Regarding the detention of Taiwanese National Party vice chairman Yang Chih-yuan (楊智淵) under China’s Anti-Secession Law, the MAC clarified that Yang is not a "pro-independence leader" as labeled by Chinese authorities. The council says Yang’s political stance changes frequently and that he had ceased political activities long before his arrest and detention by China.
MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) emphasizes that Taiwanese citizens should carefully consider their safety and think twice before traveling to China.