China’s adoption yesterday of a new national security law that codified the inclusion of Taiwan was “very impolite behavior” toward Taiwan, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Andrew Hsia (夏立言) said, adding that the council would lodge a formal protest with Beijing.
The law adopted by the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC) covers everything from territorial sovereignty and security of territorial seas and airspace to measures to tighten cybersecurity.
The Standing Committee passed the law by a vote of 154 to zero, with one abstention.
Photo: Reuters
It stipulates that: “Safeguarding China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is the common obligation of all Chinese people, including people in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.”
No unilateral action or lawmaking by the Chinese government could change the cross-strait reality, Hsia said, adding that the passage of the law was “very impolite behavior toward us.”
China should squarely face the fact that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are governed by separate governments, he said.
Democratic Progressive Party spokesperson Cheng Yun-peng (鄭運鵬) criticized Beijing for disrespecting Taiwanese and called on the government to respond firmly to China’s move.
“The future of Taiwan should be decided by all 23 million people of Taiwan, and it is the mainstream opinion in Taiwan that we should insist on values of democracy and freedom, maintenance of the ‘status quo’ and constitutionalism — and these are not something that should be ripped off by the legislation of another country,” Cheng said. “What Beijing has done is disrespectful of Taiwanese, and it would not be acceptable in Taiwan.”
He urged the government to respond strongly to defend national interests and dignity.
Taiwan Solidarity Union Legislator Lai Cheng-chang (賴振昌) said that Beijing was “delusional and talking nonsense” by passing the law and called on President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to halt all cross-strait exchanges immediately.
Another core component of the law is to make all key network infrastructure and information systems “secure and controllable.”
However, foreign business groups and diplomats have argued that the law is vague and fear it could require that technology firms make products in China or use source code released to inspectors, forcing them to expose intellectual property.
Zheng Shuna (鄭淑娜), vice chairwoman of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, downplayed those concerns, saying China welcomes “all countries’ businesses to operate in China and provide legitimate services according to law.”
“We will continue to follow the path of peaceful development, but we absolutely will not give up our legitimate rights and absolutely will not sacrifice the country’s core interests,” she said at a briefing in Beijing.
Critics have said that the extensive nature of the law, which covers everything from China’s deep sea and space assets to “harmful cultural influences,” constitutes national security overreach.
According to the law, which also covers crimes of subversion and inciting rebellion, Hong Kong and Macau must “fulfil responsibilities to safeguard national security.” That reference could spark more fears of Beijing encroaching on Hong Kong’s rule of law.
Additional reporting by Reuters and Chang Hsiao-ti
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