The Chinese government has announced a set of guidelines for imposing criminal punishments on what it calls "diehard Taiwan independence separatists."
The guidelines stipulate that people who cause grave harm to the state and the people can be sentenced to death.
The document is seen as trying to ramp up pressure on Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and his administration, which does not accept the "one-China" principle.
The guidelines, dated May 26, were issued on Friday by five Chinese judicial authorities including the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
The guidelines say judicial authorities will make all-out efforts to punish what Beijing calls "the very few diehard Taiwan independence separatists," to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
They also say acts such as organizing schemes aimed at splitting the state, and leading organizations to disrupt activities for national unification, will be punished.
Attempts to change Taiwan's position as part of China by means such as referendums or revising provisions related to Taiwan are also punishable.
Attempts to create "two Chinas" by promoting Taiwan's participation in international organizations whose membership is limited to sovereign states, or exchanging official visits with other countries, are punishable as well.
The guidelines say death sentences can be handed down to people who lead such activities, which cause particularly grave harm to the state and the people.
They say trials in absentia can be held even if the defendant is outside the country, in some cases.
Many of the acts listed as subject to punishment are consistent with the policies of President Lai's administration.
Observers view the guidelines as another way of applying pressure on Taipei following Beijing's large-scale military drill around Taiwan after Lai took office last month.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, which handles policies on China, said on Friday that authorities in Beijing have absolutely no jurisdiction over Taiwan, adding that their so-called laws and norms have no binding force whatsoever on Taiwanese citizens.
The Council expressed deep regret, saying Beijing's methods only cause confrontation among people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and significantly impact exchanges.
The Council said the announcement has highlighted the clear difference between China's system and Taiwan's free and democratic constitutional system.
The Council urged Taiwanese people not to accept Beijing's threats, and to carefully consider the need for travel to China.