Since 2017, at least four Taiwanese have been arbitrarily detained in mainland China and isolated from family and lawyers because of a breakdown in cross-strait relations. International pressure is losing effectiveness as China grows in economic clout.
Although the death penalty continues to be popular in Taiwan, the government's April 29 execution of two of its citizens, brothers Tu Ming-lang and Tu Ming-hsiung, for allegedly committing five murders in Guangdong in 2001 has understandably aroused public concern.