TAIPEI: Taiwan is considering issuing travel advisories for countries with strong ties to China, such as Laos and Cambodia, due to concerns that Taiwanese citizens could be targeted as part of Beijing’s efforts to suppress Taiwan independence supporters, a senior Taiwan official and an internal government memo have revealed.
China, which claims Taiwan as its territory despite the island's self-governance, introduced new guidelines last year aimed at punishing so-called "diehard" independence advocates. These guidelines include severe penalties, even the death sentence, though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction in Taiwan.
According to intelligence gathered by Taipei, a high-ranking Chinese official recently instructed state security agencies to enforce these measures in countries that maintain close diplomatic relations with Beijing. This directive, reportedly issued during a closed-door meeting in late February, has raised alarms in Taiwan.
Taiwan's foreign ministry has accused China of attempting to undermine the island's democracy and freedom, adding that its overseas offices are actively monitoring the situation to assess risks and raise public awareness about travel safety. Officials are evaluating whether to upgrade the travel risk level for certain nations, although no final decision has been announced.
A senior Taiwan security official, speaking anonymously, warned that Taiwanese citizens in Cambodia, Laos, and some African nations could face questioning or intimidation by local authorities or Chinese police under suspicion of supporting independence. However, some Southeast Asian countries have reportedly declined to cooperate with Beijing’s requests.
Taiwan has faced increasing pressure from China in recent years, including military maneuvers, trade restrictions, and intensified coast guard patrols around Taiwan-controlled territories. In response, Taiwan’s government has reiterated that only its people can decide the island’s future and rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty.
Currently, Taiwan's foreign ministry has an "orange" travel alert—its second-highest warning level—for Cambodia and Laos due to concerns over human trafficking and scam operations targeting Chinese-speaking individuals. The government is now reassessing whether additional warnings should be issued in light of Beijing’s latest actions.
