Beijing has barred two Taiwanese ministers from entering China over alleged pro-independence activities, prompting strong condemnation from Taipei.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing announced on Wednesday (Jan 7) that Taiwan’s Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang and Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao were labeled “die-hard Taiwan independence secessionists” and banned from entering China, as well as Hong Kong and Macau. The ban also applies to their relatives.
China claims Taiwan as its territory and has repeatedly threatened to use force to assert control over the island.
In response, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council issued a formal protest, saying the ban gravely undermines cross-strait relations and risks stoking public anger. The council accused Beijing of attempting to intimidate the broader Taiwanese population and interfere with the island’s democratic freedoms.
“Threats and intimidation will never shake the resolve of the Taiwanese people to uphold democracy and freedom,” the council said, warning that China would bear all consequences of actions that destabilize cross-strait relations.
Beijing’s announcement comes a week after the Chinese military conducted its largest-ever exercises around Taiwan, including rocket launches and deployments of warships and aircraft, which disrupted domestic flights and drew international concern.
China has now listed 14 Taiwanese officials as “secessionists”, including Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, National Security Council head Joseph Wu, and Defence Minister Wellington Koo. Prosecutor Chen Shu-Yi of Taiwan’s High Prosecutors’ Office was accused of assisting separatist activities and will allegedly be “held accountable for life,” though Beijing did not specify the penalties.
Beijing called on the public to submit evidence against the officials, claiming the actions target only a small group of “die-hard independence advocates” and not ordinary Taiwanese citizens. Taipei rejected this, saying Chinese laws have no jurisdiction in Taiwan.
