cover of episode Unpacking China’s Anti-Secession Law: A Conversation with Dr. I-Chung Lai and Professor Jacques deLisle

Unpacking China’s Anti-Secession Law: A Conversation with Dr. I-Chung Lai and Professor Jacques deLisle

2024/8/15
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ChinaPower
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赖
赖怡忠
雅
雅克·德利斯勒
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赖怡忠博士详细分析了中国2005年通过的反分裂国家法及其九条条款，特别关注第八条中关于中国可在哪些情况下对台湾使用非和平手段的规定。他还讨论了今年6月中国发布的22条意见，这些意见旨在加强反分裂国家法，并对支持台湾独立的人员处以刑事处罚，甚至包括外国公民。赖博士认为，这些措施意在阻止国际社会支持台湾，并对台湾民众构成威慑。 雅克·德利斯勒教授则从法律角度分析了反分裂国家法，指出该法案措辞模糊，具有灵活性，既是法律文件，也是政治声明。他认为，22条意见将关注点从台湾领导人可能采取的行动转移到普通民众的行为，旨在阻止所谓的“渐进式独立”。德利斯勒教授还分析了该法与国际法的冲突，指出即使承认台湾是中国一部分，中国在实施该法时仍需遵守国际人权法和国际人道主义法的限制。他认为，中国试图将台湾问题定义为内政问题，但即使如此，其行动仍可能违反国际法。 雅克·德利斯勒教授认为，反分裂国家法并未对中国使用武力构成实质性约束，中国更倾向于使用灰色地带战术，而非直接援引反分裂国家法中的“非和平手段”条款。他指出，中国在运用反分裂国家法时，采取了一种双重策略：一方面，通过媒体和领导人的言论，强调该法案的存在及其威慑作用；另一方面，在实际行动中，很少直接援引该法案，以避免国际社会的强烈反弹。德利斯勒教授还分析了国际社会可以采取的应对措施，包括强调反分裂国家法中关于台湾是中国一部分的论述的错误性，以及利用国际人权法和国际人道主义法对中国的行动进行约束。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter explores the core content of China's 2005 Anti-Secession Law, focusing on its nine articles. It highlights the controversial Article 8, which outlines conditions for the use of 'non-peaceful means' against Taiwan, and discusses the law's implications for cross-strait relations.
  • The Anti-Secession Law, passed in 2005, addresses Taiwan's status and potential independence.
  • Article 8 is the most controversial, outlining conditions for using 'non-peaceful means' against Taiwan.
  • The law's brevity and vague wording allow for flexible interpretation.

Shownotes Transcript

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, we are joined by Dr. I-Chung Lai and Professor Jacques deLisle to unpack China’s 2005 Anti-Secession Law and its important implications for cross-Strait relations—the topic of an international conference co-hosted by CSIS and Prospect Foundation in early August 2024. Dr. Lai dissects the legislation’s nine articles, particularly Article 8’s conditions in which China can employ ‘non-peaceful means’ toward Taiwan. Professor deLisle speaks to the implications of the recent “22 Opinions” that China released to strengthen the Anti-Secession Law. The 22 Opinions criminalizes support for Taiwan independence and could be used even against foreign individuals who are not from China or Taiwan. However, Professor deLisle suggests that international recognition and enforcement of these laws would raise human rights concerns. Finally, Dr. Lai and Professor deLisle offer their recommendations on how the United States, Taiwan, and the international community can effectively respond to China’s actions. 

Dr. I-Chung Lai is the president of Prospect Foundation, a Taiwan-based think tank. Prior to joining the Prospect Foundation, he held several prominent positions within the Democratic Progressive Party, serving as executive director of the DPP Mission to the United States and as the director general of the Department of International Affairs. He has also worked as a special assistant with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Tokyo. 

Professor Jacques deLisle is a Stephen A. Cozen professor of law and professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania. His research and teaching focus on contemporary Chinese law and politics, including legal reform and its relationship to economic reform and political change in China, the international status of Taiwan and cross-Strait relations, China’s engagement with the international order, legal and political issues in Hong Kong under Chinese rule, and U.S.-China relations. DeLisle is the director of the Center for the Study of Contemporary China, co-director of the Center for Asian Law, and director of the Asia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.