Taiwan Establishes Interagency Platform to Counter China's Unity Law

The government of Taiwan has responded to the July 1 implementation of China's Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress by establishing a Cabinet-level cross-agency platform to counter transnational repression. Cho Jung-tai, the Premier of Taiwan, announced that this interagency mechanism will include the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and the Mainland Affairs Council to coordinate protections for national security and citizens.

President Lai Ching-te condemned the legislation as an egregious tool for assimilation and repression. The law, passed by China's National People's Congress in March, allows Beijing to hold individuals and organizations outside China legally liable for acts that undermine ethnic unity. Taiwanese officials characterize the measure as a disguised unification law designed to pressure citizens into accepting the Chinese Communist Party's political framework.

In addition to the new platform, the Taiwanese government has mandated anti-espionage training for Ministry of National Defense think tanks and increased travel warnings for China, Hong Kong, and Macau. These actions follow reports of 13 Taiwanese citizens missing or restricted in China last month. The United States Department of State and UN human rights chief Volker Türk also condemned the law, with Türk calling for its repeal.

Domestically, the law has sparked political conflict. The Democratic Progressive Party proposed a legislative resolution to condemn the law, but opposition parties, including the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Party, voted to block the motion. TPP caucus whip Jacky Chen defended the move as a matter of legislative procedure, while the ruling party accused the opposition of collaborating with Beijing.