Taiwan’s President William Lai has sharply denounced China’s newly enacted Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress. Speaking at a Democratic Progressive Party Central Executive Committee meeting, Lai asserted that Taiwan would not succumb to what he described as “red terror” or any efforts by Beijing to exert influence over the island. He labeled the legislation as a further reach of China’s authoritarian agenda, posing threats that extend beyond its borders. Lai committed to bolstering Taiwan’s defenses to protect its citizens and national interests against Beijing’s mounting political pressure.
Implemented this week after being approved by China’s National People’s Congress in March, the law mandates that Chinese citizens support national unification. It grants authorities the power to hold individuals and organizations accountable for actions seen as detrimental to ethnic unity or supportive of ethnic division, though these offenses are not precisely defined. Critics in Taiwan view the law as an attempt to promote the idea that Taiwanese people are part of a larger Chinese national identity.
Lai expressed concerns that China could use the legislation to justify cross-border enforcement, increasing pressure on individuals and organizations beyond mainland China. He noted that China has already executed over 110 instances of cross-border pressure targeting Taiwan and warned that such practices could expand. The broad scope of the law, Lai suggested, might also pose risks to foreign governments, businesses, lawmakers, civil society groups, and individuals who could face arbitrary actions.
In response to these threats, Taiwan plans to enhance monitoring systems and improve early warning mechanisms while reviewing additional policies to shield its citizens from outside interference. Lai announced initiatives to expand media literacy programs, enhance civil servant training, and establish robust prevention and response systems against what he termed Beijing’s escalating cross-border repression. Taiwan remains committed to collaborating with democratic allies to raise global awareness about human rights issues and defend its sovereignty.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed the president’s concerns, describing the legislation as another attempt by Beijing to extend its legal reach in ways that conflict with international norms and human rights principles. The ministry argued that the law’s ambiguous language could lead to self-censorship and cause uncertainty for those fearing retaliation. The legislation has drawn criticism from several international entities, including the United States, Japan, the European Union, the United Nations, and Amnesty International, all of which have expressed concern over its implications for human rights, legal certainty, and freedom of expression.