Taipei: The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday condemned Chinese authorities for issuing a bounty notice for two Taiwanese YouTubers over alleged “inciting secession,” stating that the action was intended to create unease in Taiwanese society.

According to Focus Taiwan, the purpose of the notice is to “inflame nationalist sentiment” in China and “create unease” in Taiwan, as explained by MAC deputy head and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh at a regular news briefing in Taipei. Liang described the notice as “merely for show,” emphasizing that the accusations against the YouTubers essentially charge them with engaging in “Taiwan independence” activities-allegations that need no evidence for Chinese authorities.

Liang further noted that the action serves to create divisions and tension within Taiwanese society, though he did not elaborate further. His comments followed the public security bureau in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, issuing a bounty notice for YouTubers Pa Chiung and Chen Po-yuan on suspicion of “inciting secession.”

The notice claimed that Pa Chiung and Chen “have long used overseas social media platforms to post and spread large amounts of ‘anti-China’ and ‘resist China’ content and rhetoric inciting secession.” The bureau also accused them of smearing China’s policies that supposedly “benefit Taiwan,” bullying Chinese spouses living in Taiwan, and advocating for “Taiwan independence,” which it described as having a “vicious impact.”

This is not the first time Pa Chiung, whose real name is Wen Tzu-yu, and Chen have been targeted by Chinese authorities. In March, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) launched an online reporting platform targeting “Taiwan independence” advocates and their alleged accomplices, listing both YouTubers among the 11 individuals reported.

At that time, the two YouTubers were key figures in campaigns calling for the deportation of three Chinese spouses in Taiwan over their pro-“military unification” remarks. The newly issued notice included the Taiwanese ID numbers of both Pa Chiung and Chen, urging the public to provide information.

The Quanzhou bureau promised rewards ranging from 50,000 to 250,000 renminbi (RMB), or roughly US$7,045 to US$35,226, for individuals who provide tips or assist authorities in capturing the pair.