Former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has voiced strong concerns regarding China’s recent legislation that purportedly allows the state to prosecute individuals and organisations globally for acts deemed to undermine its “ethnic unity.” Speaking at the Ketagalan Forum in Taiwan, Freeland highlighted the troubling echoes of this law with the rationale used by Russian President Vladimir Putin to justify his aggression in Ukraine.
A Bold Challenge from Taiwan
Freeland’s address came at a time when Taiwan, a self-governing democracy under constant threat from China, is facing increasing scrutiny over its sovereignty. Beijing’s claims to Taiwan as a breakaway province have intensified, with officials warning that the new Chinese law provides further legal justification for targeting anyone in Taiwan perceived as separatist. Freeland’s remarks underscore the precarious situation in which Taiwan finds itself, caught between the ambitions of a powerful neighbour and the support of democratic allies.
In her keynote speech, Freeland drew attention to a particularly troubling section of the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which became effective on July 1. This legislation allows for the prosecution of individuals and organisations outside China for actions that “undermine ethnic unity and progress or create ethnic division.” Such vague language raises alarms about potential abuses of power, critics argue, as it leaves ample room for Beijing’s interpretation.
Lessons from History
Freeland invoked historical parallels, citing Putin’s 2021 essay in which he asserted that Russians and Ukrainians are “one people.” This narrative, she noted, was a precursor to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine just months later. “The lesson of history is clear,” Freeland stated, insisting that democracies must unequivocally condemn such legislation. She urged governments to declare that foreign laws assigning political loyalty based on ethnicity have no validity within their territories.
Reflecting on her own experiences, Freeland recalled her time as a journalist during the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991 and her subsequent role as Deputy Prime Minister during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. She cautioned that historical patterns of appeasement towards authoritarian regimes do not yield security but rather embolden aggressors. She referenced the West’s muted responses to previous Russian incursions into Georgia and Crimea, arguing that these reactions had misled Putin into believing he could act with impunity.
Taiwan’s Strategic Importance
Freeland’s insights also extended to Taiwan’s critical role in global supply chains, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing. She likened Taiwan’s strategic leverage to that of Ukraine’s burgeoning drone industry, emphasising that such capabilities render it indispensable to democratic allies. Freeland called for robust support for Taiwan’s ambitions to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a significant trade pact encompassing Canada and other like-minded nations.
The former Deputy Prime Minister reiterated the need for democratic nations to collectively voice their opposition to any disruption of peace in the Taiwan Strait. “The peace of the Strait of Taiwan will be kept by the plainness with which the world’s democracies say in advance that we will not accept that peace being broken,” she declared, reinforcing the message of solidarity with Taiwan’s democratic aspirations.
China’s response to Freeland’s comments has been predictable. The state-run Global Times dismissed the Ketagalan Forum as a platform for “marginal foreign politicians” promoting “Taiwan independence,” revealing the sensitivities surrounding international discourse on Taiwan.
Why it Matters
Freeland’s assertions resonate beyond the immediate geopolitical landscape; they highlight the broader implications of authoritarianism on global stability. The potential for China’s ethnic unity law to serve as a tool for oppression, coupled with the historical lessons drawn from Russia’s aggression, underscores the urgent need for democratic nations to stand united against such overreach. As tensions escalate in the Asia-Pacific region, the responses from global powers will shape not only the fate of Taiwan but also the integrity of international norms governing sovereignty and human rights. The stakes could not be higher as the world watches to see whether democracies will rise to the challenge or falter in the face of authoritarian ambitions.