Employing “Non-Peaceful” Means Against Taiwan

The Implications of China’s Anti-Secession Law

In 2005, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) passed the Anti-Secession Law (ASL), a critical piece of domestic legislation that outlines Beijing’s approach to Taiwan and establishes a legal basis for forcing Taiwan’s unification through coercive and military means. In recent years, China has increasingly leveraged the ASL to legitimize its approach toward Taiwan and to dissuade foreign countries, organizations, and individuals from supporting and deepening ties with the island. Further, on June 21, 2024, the Chinese government cited the ASL in announcing a new and important interpretation of China’s Criminal Law and laid out “22 Articles” for imposing criminal punishment on leaders and advocates of Taiwan independence. This report is an effort to assess these critical developments and discuss how China may use the ASL in the future. It compiles expert insights and analysis from a conference the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) co-hosted with Taiwan’s Prospect Foundation in Taipei in August 2024, which focused on three main topics: (1) how China might use the ASL and the 22 Articles; (2) the legal basis and relevance of China’s ASL and the 22 Articles; and (3) how the international community should respond.

This report is made possible through the generous support of Robert Tsao, founder of the United Microelectronics Corporation.

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Bonny Lin
Director, China Power Project and Senior Adviser

I-Chung Lai

President, Prospect Foundation; and Board Member, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy