Anti-Secession Law

It is a law on cross-strait relations in Taiwan adopted at the Third Session of the 10th National People’s Congress held on March 14, 2005. Hu Jintao signed Presidential Decree No.34 of the People’s Republic of China on the same day and immediately announced its implementation. The main content of the law is to encourage cross-strait exchanges and cooperation. For the first time, it clearly puts forward the bottom line that Chinese mainland can resort to “non-peaceful means” to deal with the Taiwan question under three circumstances.

The main content of the Anti-Secession Law is as follows. It makes clear that the purpose of formulating this Law is to oppose and curb the secession of the country by the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, promote the peaceful reunification of the motherland, safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. It emphasizes that there is only one-China in the world, and China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be divided. Taiwan is a part of China, and the state will never allow the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces to split Taiwan from China in any name or in any way. It further stresses that solving the Taiwan question and realizing the reunification of the motherland are China’s internal affairs and cannot interfered by any foreign forces. It underscores that it is the sacred duty of all Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots to accomplish the great cause of reunifying the motherland. The country will do its utmost to achieve peaceful reunification through equal consultation and negotiation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait with the greatest sincerity. If the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces cause Taiwan to split from China in any name or in any way, or if there is a major incident that will lead to Taiwan’s splitting from China, or if the possibility of peaceful reunification is completely lost, the state must adopt non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Anti-Secession Law is not only legislation against separatism, but also legislation benefiting compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, which has the function of severely punishing “troublemakers” and “Taiwan independence” forces. It is also the legislation to safeguard peace in the Taiwan Strait and peaceful development in Asia and the Pacific. It is also conducive to the cause of world peace and the development of friendly and cooperative relations between China and other countries in the world.