The sharp sword of legal action will always hang high over diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists if they don't stop separatism activities, said an official of China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on Friday.
Sun Ping, deputy head of the MPS' legal affairs bureau, emphasized at a press conference the clemency and severity reflected in a set of guidelines issued on the same day on imposing criminal punishments on diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists for conducting or inciting secession.
"The public security organs will strictly follow the legal procedures to handle the criminal cases of 'Taiwan independence' diehards conducting or inciting secession, and investigate their criminal responsibility in accordance with the law together with relevant departments. The ringleaders and those who have committed serious crimes will be cracked down on and severely punished in accordance with the law. At the same time, for those who voluntarily give up their 'Taiwan independence' separatist stance, stop carrying out separatist activities, and take measures to mitigate the harmful consequences or prevent the harm from expanding, if meeting the legal conditions, the public security organs may also withdraw the case after verification procedures in accordance with the law," Sun said.
Sun noted that the statute of limitations will not apply unless separatist criminal actions have come to an end, and those diehard separatists will be hold accountable lifelong according to the guidelines.
"This means that as long as the separatist acts of the 'Taiwan independence' diehards do not stop, the sharp sword of legal action will always hang high over their heads. Second, after the criminal acts of conducting or inciting secession are filed for investigation or a people's court accepts the case, if the suspect or defendant evades investigation and trial, the prosecution period will not be limited. In other words, for the 'Taiwan independence' diehards who commit the crime of conducting or inciting secession, once the investigation body files a case for investigation or a people's court accepts the case, no matter where they flee, they will be held accountable for the rest of their lives according to law," Sun said.
Diehard 'Taiwan independence' separatists shall be held accountable for rest of their lives: official
