China takes punitive actions on three Taiwanese for 'independence activities'

BEIJING, Jan 7 (Reuters) - China will take punitive actions against three Taiwanese for their involvement in separatist activities related to "Taiwan independence", its Taiwan Affairs Office said on Wednesday.

One of the people was named as an accomplice in separatist activities and will be held accountable for life.

Two of the others, as well as their relatives, will be banned from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, the office's spokesperson Chen Binhua told reporters at a weekly news briefing.

Chen said the purpose of the actions against a small number of "Taiwan independence diehards" is to "fundamentally safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity", and that it was not aimed at Taiwanese in general.

Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory, which Taipei rejects.