Separatist detained in Zhejiang province

Yang Chih-yuen, a Taiwan resident suspected of engaging in separatist activities and endangering national security, has been detained by the Wenzhou state security bureau in Zhejiang province on Wednesday.

Yang, born in Taichung in 1990, has been advocating "Taiwan independence" and working with others to establish an illegal organization, the "Taiwanese National Party", which has as its aim to "push for the island to become a sovereign and independent state and join the United Nations".

He has been planning and carrying out separatist activities and is suspected of splitting the state and inciting others to do so.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in response it fully demonstrates any separatists who defy the law cannot escape punishment.

The detainment came after a spokesperson for the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Wednesday made remarks on punishing die-hard "Taiwan independence" advocates in accordance with the law.

A handful of people have recklessly carried out seditious activities and served as pawns for external anti-China forces, the spokesperson said, adding such acts and remarks must be punished in accordance with the law.