China's 'National Unity Law' Targets Overseas Citizens, Not Foreigners, Says Taiwanese Lawmaker

China's upcoming "Law on Promoting National Unity and Progress," scheduled to be implemented on July 1, has drawn international scrutiny over its potential to become a tool for transnational repression. While the law claims jurisdiction over "overseas" individuals, a Taiwanese legislator believes its primary aim is not foreigners but Chinese citizens living abroad who have family members remaining in China.

Lin Chun-hsien, a member of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), stated that the law's true objective is to exert control over individuals residing outside China who support Taiwan or are perceived as "damaging national unity." He argued that while China cannot directly arrest non-Chinese nationals in Taiwan or other countries, the law could be used to create a chilling effect. Lin pointed out that China's definition of "overseas" is broad, encompassing not only foreign countries but also Hong Kong and Macau, and even Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory.

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The real target of this move by the CCP is not foreigners, but Chinese nationals living overseas who have relatives in China as 'soft targets'.

Lin explained that the law's effectiveness relies on leveraging the "soft targets" – relatives and friends left behind in China – of overseas Chinese citizens. By threatening these individuals, Beijing could coerce the overseas citizens into returning to China to face trial, thereby allowing the government to claim it is acting within the new law. This tactic, Lin suggested, serves as a propaganda tool for internal consumption, especially as China's economy faces challenges. He characterized "national unity" as a vague term designed to facilitate arbitrary charges and urged Chinese citizens living abroad to remain vigilant.

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The vague term 'national unity' is clearly intended to facilitate arbitrary charges at any time.