CRNTT:

The mainland has announced two groups of diehard Taiwan independence separatists, and said to punish them according to law. May I ask what measures will be taken in this regard? Will you consider issuing detailed implementation rules for the Anti-Secession Law, or formulating a separate law on national reunification? Thank you.

Zhu Fenglian:

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have thoroughly studied and implemented Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on our work related to Taiwan, using law-based thinking, methods, and the power of the rule of law to defend the one-China principle in accordance with the law. We have resolutely opposed and deterred any separatist activity seeking Taiwan Independence and protected the legitimate rights and interests of compatriots on both sides of the Strait.

Actively using legal means to combat and contain separatist activities seeking Taiwan independence and punish diehard Taiwan independence separatists and their affiliated companies and major supporters such as financial sponsors in accordance with the law is an important measure to combat and contain the separatist forces and activities seeking Taiwan independence. It's also vital for maintaining the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. This move significantly deterred the separatist forces on the island. Moreover, it encouraged patriots who supported the reunification of the motherland inside and outside the island and received extensive support and affirmation.

We will continue to take targeted measures against diehard Taiwan independence separatists in accordance with the law. We will intensify the punishments of the very few diehard Taiwan independence separatists who have arrogant remarks about independence, vile acts of seeking independence, and rampant activities of relying on the United States to seek independence. We will prohibit them and their families from entering the mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, restrict their affiliated companies from cooperating with mainland-related organizations and individuals, and never allow their affiliated companies and financial sponsors to make profits on the mainland. We will also take other necessary punishment measures to pursue criminal accountability against diehard Taiwan independence separatists in accordance with the law, with the punishment effective for their lifetimes. Taiwan independence separatists inside and outside the island will surely pay a heavy price if they are so obsessed as to continue the path, do not know how to restrain themselves, and go their own way.

I would like to stress that the Constitution, the Anti-Secession Law, the National Security Law and other laws have explicit provisions for resolving the Taiwan question and promoting the reunification of the motherland, providing a solid legal guarantee for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the reunification of the motherland. We will continue to strengthen the use of the law-based approach and means to combat the separatist elements advocating Taiwan independence and advance the progress of the reunification of the motherland. We will also further introduce new law-based measures to oppose and deter the separatist schemes or activities for Taiwan independence according to the development and changes of the situation and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. Thank you.