Taiwan cautions against traveling to China

Taiwan warns against visiting China, citing the expanded state secrets law that will come into force in China on Wednesday

According to state news agency Xinhua, China enacted the revised Law on Guarding State Secrets in February, adding a new classification known as “work secrets” to the definition of such sensitive information.

On Tuesday, Taiwan issued a statement indicating that the expanded law greatly increases the risk of travel to China for people from

By the revised legislation, Taiwan, which oversees cross-strait affairs, defines “work secrets” as data that, while not classified as state secrets, would result in specific detrimental consequences should it be disclosed.

The report further stated that the expanded legislation was “extremely ambiguous and could potentially incite individuals to violate the law at any moment.”

According to Xinhua, the legislation’s enactment emphasized “the significance of maintaining the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over efforts to protect state secrets.”

Taiwan criticized Beijing for “continuously employing legislation” to strictly monitor foreign visitors to China, stating that “fabricated crimes” against foreigners and Taiwanese are “regular.”

“We would like to once again remind the public to refrain from going to China for the time being unless necessary,” according to its statement on Tuesday.

Commencing in 2022, he was released after serving a five-year prison term for a national security offense.

Last year, China arrested a Taiwanese man who supported the island’s independence while serving as vice chair of a minor political party and charged him with “secession”.

Less than a month prior to the inauguration of president-elect Lai Ching-te, whom China labels a “dangerous separatist” who will steer Taiwan toward “war and decline,” Taiwan made its announcement on Tuesday.