Hitting Them Where it Hurts

China is going directly after the wallets of the wealthy and well-connected Taipei politicians who seek separation from the mainland.

The Chinese mainland on Friday announced specific measures to punish diehard secessionists from the island of Taiwan, including prohibiting them and their families from entering the mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, and restricting their associated institutions from cooperating with organizations and individuals in the mainland for economic benefits, and they will be persecuted for life long for criminal liability.

Experts said the move on Friday is just the beginning to hold secessionists accountable, and shows that the complete reunification of the country is irresistible as the mainland is taking concrete measures on laws to remove obstacles. Those who attempt to split the island of Taiwan from the motherland would have no place to hide, and will face a life-long pursuit for their crimes.

Aside from entry ban, we would not allow the companies or paymasters of these diehard secessionists to profit from Chinese mainland, and will also take other measures to punish them, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a press conference on Friday.

Mainland slaps punishment for diehard Taiwan secessionists, Global Times, 5 November 2021

This is a just and rhetorically effective approach to create pressure for reunification on the leadership of the independence movement. Most of them profit considerably from their business with the mainland, and denying it to them will tend to reduce both their will and their influence while increasing the influence of the friends of the mainland.

After all, if they want separation from the mainland, why should they enjoy any benefits from its massive market? And the warning that they will be held accountable for life means that their future wealth and influence will be completely dependent upon the success of their secession plans.

It’s also evidence that the Chinese leadership has learned that subtlety and soft power can be more useful in some circumstances than overt threats of massive violence.

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