Taiwan is investigating organised crime's links to what Taipei calls China's 'transnational repression', National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen told reporters at parliament on Thursday, Reuters reported. The allegation is Taiwan's — China has not responded.

Source: Reuters

Tsai said, according to Reuters, that the local networks involved in incidents like an attack on a comedian who mocked President Xi Jinping are mostly criminal gangs or private investigation firms linked to organised crime. Taipei's government has said Beijing was behind that attack — an allegation, not a proven fact in this report.

"The National Security Bureau is more concerned with whether anyone behind them has been directed and funded by the Chinese Communist Party. How to dismantle the entire criminal group and network is a key focus for us," Tsai said, Reuters reported.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment and has not responded to previous questions on the assault on the comedian, Reuters said. China views Taiwan as its own territory, over the island's objections — that is Beijing's stated position, reported by Reuters.

Taiwan's Supreme Prosecutors Office said in a separate statement on Thursday that the public should 'raise their vigilance and never assist hostile foreign forces or allow themselves to be exploited as local collaborators', Reuters reported. Tsai said Taiwan might need to amend its laws, adding that the legal framework for curbing such activity has been lacking.