Taiwan warns of increased risk for citizens traveling to China after new law

Hsu Chih-jung, Secretary-General of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), met with Jamie Fly, Executive Director of the U.S. human rights organization Freedom House, and Kevin Slaten, its Taiwan office director. The meeting focused on global democratic development, China's authoritarian expansion, the situation in the Taiwan Strait, democratic resilience, Taiwan-U.S. security cooperation, and political developments in Taiwan.

Hsu emphasized Taiwan's intention to deepen collaboration with like-minded partners, including the United States, and firmly oppose any attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through non-peaceful means. He specifically warned that since China's "National Unity and Progress Promotion Law" took effect in July, the risk for Taiwanese citizens traveling to mainland China has sharply increased, posing a serious threat to democratic nations globally.

Hsu praised Freedom House's long-standing contributions to advocating democratic values and defending the international liberal order. He noted the DPP's diplomatic training camp delegation's visit to Freedom House headquarters in Washington D.C. earlier in July, which reinforced the importance of strengthening shared democratic values between Taiwan and the U.S. He stressed that consolidating democracy requires not only firm commitment but also nurturing new generations of talent dedicated to freedom and democracy, expressing gratitude for Freedom House's focus on Taiwan's youth.

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Taiwan will continue to deepen close cooperation with like-minded partners such as the United States and firmly oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through non-peaceful means.

Hsu acknowledged Fly's consistent support for Taiwan's deepening democracy and strengthening national security, whether in his role advising Senator Rubio or leading Radio Free Europe, and now at Freedom House. He also thanked Slaten for leading the Taiwan office and the "China Dissent Monitor" project, which fosters strong connections between Freedom House and Taiwan's civil society.

Addressing the global rise of authoritarianism, Hsu highlighted Taiwan's position on the front lines of resisting authoritarian pressure. He reiterated Taiwan's commitment to enhancing its self-defense capabilities and deepening cooperation with the U.S. and other like-minded partners. Hsu also pointed out that resilient democracies must not only protect freedom but also deliver tangible benefits to their people, citing Taiwan's strong economic growth and expanding social welfare over the past three years as evidence that security, democracy, and prosperity can mutually reinforce each other.

Both sides expressed concern over China's increasing cross-border suppression. Hsu thanked Freedom House for its ongoing tracking of global cross-border repression cases and for advocating for the oppressed. He stated that China's use of long-arm jurisdiction and cross-border suppression to coerce and arbitrarily detain individuals worldwide has escalated risks for Taiwanese citizens since the new law's implementation in July, posing a significant threat to democratic countries globally. Since establishing its Asia office in Taipei in 2022, Freedom House has used Taiwan as a strategic base for promoting democracy, human rights, and civil society in Asia. Hsu affirmed the DPP's commitment to maintaining close ties with Freedom House and global democratic partners to jointly consolidate democratic defenses and safeguard regional and global peace and prosperity.

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Since the implementation of the 'National Unity and Progress Promotion Law' in July, the risk for Taiwanese people going to China has sharply increased, and the law also poses a serious threat to democratic countries around the world.