China has imposed sanctions on seven Taiwanese officials and politicians it says are "independence diehards", including banning them from entering, in its latest angry reproach of the democratically governed island.
Many Taiwanese see their island as a separate country to China, whereas Beijing maintains Taiwan is a Chinese province. Photo: 123RF
The sanctions come after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan this month, a trip that China said had sent a wrong signal to what it views as pro-independence forces.
China considers Taiwan its own territory and not a separate country. Taiwan's government disputes China's claim.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office said among those sanctioned were Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council Wellington Koo, and politicians from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
A Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson said those sanctioned would not be able to visit China, Hong Kong and Macau. Firms and investors related to them were also not allowed to profit in China.
"For some time, a few diehard separatist elements, out of their own interests, have gone to lengths to collude with external forces in provocations advocating Taiwan independence," state news agency Xinhua cited the spokesperson as saying.
"They have deliberately instigated confrontations across the Taiwan Strait, and recklessly undermined peace and stability in the region."
Taiwan's foreign ministry said in response that the island was a democracy that "could not be interfered with by China".
"Even more, we cannot accept threats and menace from authoritarian and totalitarian systems," ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou told reporters in Taipei.
The sanctions would have little practical impact as senior Taiwanese officials do not visit China.
These seven were in addition to Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and parliament Speaker You Si-kun who were previously sanctioned by China.
Taiwan's government said only the island's 23 million people had the right to decide their own future.
-Reuters
