ISTANBUL

China on Wednesday sentenced a Taiwanese citizen to four years on charges of espionage, local media reported.

Tsai Chin-shu from Taiwan was sentenced “to four years in prison and deprived of political rights for four years for espionage,” said Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

“The enforcement has been handled by relevant departments in accordance with the law,” Zhu said, according to Beijing-based daily Global Times.

Tsai, chairman of the South Taiwan Cross-Strait Relations Association, had reportedly confessed to accusations in 2020 after being detained in 2018.

China claims Taiwan as a “breakaway province,” however, Taipei insists on being independent since 1949, and has established diplomatic relations with at least 14 countries and regions.