WASHINGTON (TVBS News) — The U.S. State Department on Monday (June 24) condemned actions and statements by Chinese officials that have escalated tensions and disrupted regional stability. Spokesperson Matthew Miller called for restraint and warned against any unilateral changes to the status quo, urging a return to meaningful dialogue between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan.
Miller's statement came in response to new judicial guidelines issued by China on June 21, 2024, which outline punishments for "Taiwan independence" separatists, including "absentee trials" and the death penalty for those accused of 'splitting the nation.' The U.S. criticized these measures as destabilizing, asserting that such threats and legal tactics will not peacefully resolve the differences across the Taiwan Strait.
In a rebuttal, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te condemned China's guidelines, declaring, "Democracy is not a crime; dictatorship is the real evil." He insisted that China lacks the authority to impose sanctions or prosecute Taiwanese people in an extraterritorial way. President Lai called on China to recognize the Republic of China (R.O.C.) and engage with Taiwan's democratically elected government to prevent further deterioration in relations.
The Mainland Affairs Council (陸委會, MAC) reinforced this stance, affirming the inalienable rights of Taiwan's 23 million citizens to freedom, democracy, and constitutional protections. The MAC stated that Beijing has no judicial jurisdiction over Taiwan and that the Communist Party of China's laws hold no sway over its people.
