Taiwan’s President William Lai has condemned China’s recently enacted Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, asserting that Taiwan will resist any “red terror” or efforts to extend Beijing’s reach over the island. Addressing the Democratic Progressive Party’s Central Executive Committee, Lai criticized the law as an expansion of China’s authoritarian policies that poses threats beyond its borders. He vowed that Taiwan would bolster its defenses to protect its people and national interests from increasing political pressure from Beijing.
This legislation, which was passed by China’s National People’s Congress in March and has come into effect this week, mandates that Chinese citizens support national unification. It grants authorities the power to hold individuals or organizations accountable for actions deemed harmful to ethnic unity or supportive of ethnic division, though the law does not clearly define these offenses. Critics in Taiwan argue that this law is an attempt to reinforce the notion that Taiwanese people are part of a broader Chinese identity.
Lai expressed concern that the legislation could be used to justify cross-border enforcement, heightening pressure on individuals and organizations beyond mainland China. He noted that Beijing has already executed over 110 instances of cross-border pressure targeting Taiwan and warned that such actions could escalate. According to Lai, the law could also mean arbitrary measures for foreign governments, businesses, lawmakers, civil society groups, and private individuals under its broad scope.
To address these challenges, Taiwan plans to enhance its monitoring systems, improve early warning mechanisms, and review additional policies to protect its citizens from external interference. Lai announced initiatives to expand media literacy programs, improve civil servant training, and establish stronger prevention and response systems against what he described as Beijing’s increasing campaign of cross-border repression. Taiwan will also continue collaborating with democratic partners to increase international awareness of human rights issues and defend its sovereignty.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed the president’s concerns, labeling the legislation as another move by Beijing to extend its legal authority beyond its borders in ways that conflict with international norms and human rights principles. The ministry argued that the law’s ambiguous language could lead to self-censorship and create uncertainty among those fearing retaliation. The legislation has faced criticism from several international bodies, including the United States, Japan, the European Union, the United Nations, and Amnesty International, all of which have expressed concern about its implications for human rights, legal certainty, and freedom of expression.