Chinese state media have recently used social media platforms to spread satellite photos of the Taipei residence and work location of Legislator Puma Shen in a malicious attempt to intimidate the people of Taiwan and conduct long-arm jurisdiction and transnational repression. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns these actions.
MOFA solemnly reiterates that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is subordinate to the other and that China has no jurisdiction over Taiwan nationals.
Having previously threatened to arrest Taiwan Legislator Puma Shen anywhere in the world, Chinese state media have recently employed malicious digital authoritarian tools to jeopardize the safety of Taiwan nationals, attempting to sow fear in Taiwan’s democratic society and thereby create a chilling effect. These contemptible actions contravene provisions in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights concerning the protection from arbitrary interference with privacy, family, or home. In addition, they constitute a comprehensive violation of people’s privacy and show a complete lack of civilized norms.
MOFA once again reiterates that China’s transnational repression, harassment, and interference against nationals of Taiwan or any other country gravely contravene the spirit of international law and international human rights. Such behavior clearly shows that the Beijing authorities have no regard for the fundamental values of human rights and privacy common in civilized nations. Any Taiwan nationals targeted by transnational repression will be protected by the government. Furthermore, anyone in Taiwan cooperating with China’s transnational repression will be subject to legal sanctions.
MOFA will continue to coordinate with other government agencies, strengthen cooperation with the international community, and bolster the emergency response and assistance mechanisms of overseas missions so as to safeguard Taiwan nationals’ safety. At the same time, MOFA calls on the international community to jointly condemn China’s malicious actions aimed at undermining human rights and people’s privacy and block China’s inappropriate efforts to conduct long-arm jurisdiction and transnational repression.
