China’s ambassador to Australia has warned that Taiwanese people advocating full independence from the mainland will be “punished” according to Chinese law, speaking in an interview with the ABC’s 7.30 program. Ambassador Xiao Qian was pressed on whether Taiwanese people would be “re-educated” in the event of reunification with the mainland, as has been publicly suggested by China’s ambassador in Paris. Mr Xiao said they would be obliged to learn about China but rejected the idea the education would be “forced”. “This is a question of obligation … not a question of force,” he said. (https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/taiwanese-independence-advocates-will-be-punished-says-chinese-ambassador/ar-AA11whxR) But Mr Xiao said for a “handful” of “secessionists” who were “stubborn” in their pursuit of Taiwanese independence, it was “not a question of re-education” — instead, they would be “punished according to law”.