Countering China’s Transnational Repression Officials: Amending the “Anti-Infiltration Law” to Severely Punish Local Collaborators

In response to China's transnational suppression of Taiwan, an informed official said in an interview today that the Ministry of Justice is currently planning to amend the "Anti-infiltration Law" to severely punish those who are instructed, entrusted or funded by "foreign hostile forces" to engage in surveillance, harassment, threats or violent attacks in Taiwan that endanger personal freedom and personal safety.

According to a report submitted to the Legislative Yuan by the National Security Bureau, the CCP’s transnational suppression of Taiwan includes “blatant political warnings” and “transnational intimidation and threats.” In terms of "blatant political warnings", the CCP has unilaterally issued so-called "punishing independence" and "promoting reunification" laws, accusing Chinese people of "inciting secession" and warning that they may be arrested, sentenced and imprisoned. It also operates the "report Taiwan independence" mechanism, lists independence-related sanctions, and claims to launch investigations and accountability, with the intention of creating the illusion of extraterritorial pursuits.

In terms of "transnational intimidation and threats", the CCP uses detours to induce and instigate overseas or collaborators in Taiwan to carry out intelligence surveillance, pressure, intimidation, and violent harm against those who oppose autocracy and advocate democracy. It also uses digital means to conduct online harassment and create smear information. It also threatens to use the "Interpol" reporting mechanism to require arrest and extradition from third countries.

In addition, the Executive Yuan has established the "Inter-agency Coordination Platform for Transnational Suppression" to integrate national security information, digital evidence and investigation clues. In response to transnational suppression by foreign hostile forces, the Executive Yuan has requested the National Security Prosecutor of the District Attorney's Office to direct investigations and strengthen cross-agency collaboration and criminal investigation.

According to statistics from the Ministry of the Interior, a total of 9 cases of transnational suppression have been investigated, and prosecutors have prosecuted 4 cases, including the attack on the Camidi Comedy Club, the attack on the media person Akio Yaita, the case of legislator Shen Boyang being followed by a credit reporting agency, and the case of comedian Huang Yihao's fake car accident. The national security unit has also traced the identity of overseas instigators, cross-border financial flow channels, and criminal networks in Taiwan.

Officials who are familiar with the CCP's infiltration pointed out that in response to the threat of the CCP's transnational repression, a special law should be established to counter transnational repression. However, because the situation is relatively urgent now, the "Anti-Infiltration Law" is amended first. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for amending the law, and a draft amendment will be proposed soon.

Officials revealed that if the ruling party can control the majority in Congress in the future, it will amend another special law so that the countermeasures will be more complete. Because countering transnational repression is not just about imposing heavy sentences, it also involves how to protect victims through public power, how to prepare for various ministries, etc., such as how to publicize work. It is better for relevant ministries to have legal sources of close cooperation.

The official further said that although all ministries and commissions are now very cooperative, we hope that not only the Executive Yuan is doing this, but also the judicial system must be able to counter transnational repression. Therefore, a complete set of laws is needed in the future to allow the national budget and all aspects to cooperate.

"We will first amend the anti-infiltration law to severely punish local collaborators!" Officials said that in the direction of amending the law, if you cooperate with "foreign hostile forces" in transnational suppression, and you know that you are entrusted by a foreign agency or individual, and you are also instructed to act as a collaborator, and then carry out various behaviors such as harm, surveillance, tracking, harassment, and even violent attacks, you should be severely punished, and you cannot be sentenced to misdemeanors according to previous practices.

He emphasized that whether it is the "National Security Law", the "Anti-infiltration Law" or future special laws, there should be special provisions to increase the punishment for local collaborators, because they assist foreign hostile forces to endanger national sovereignty and harm the relevant rights and interests of citizens. The law clearly stipulates that different judges will not have different opinions and then impose different sentences.