The government has raised its travel alert for China, Hong Kong and Macau to
its second-highest -- or orange -- alert with immediate effect.

The Mainland Affairs Council is advising Taiwanese people to avoid
unnecessary travel to the regions due to increasing safety concerns.

Council spokesman Liang Wen-jie says the decision to raise the alert level is
a response to Beijing's newly issued guidelines targeting advocates of Taiwan
independence.

The new guidelines allow courts in China to try "Taiwan independence
separatists" in absentia and state that so-called "diehard" advocates of
Taiwan independence convicted of inciting secession could be sentenced to
death.

The council spokesman says there is concern that the new guidelines could
seriously threaten the safety of Taiwanese people when traveling to these
regions.

However, the Mainland Affairs Council denies the travel alert is a
countermeasure against China - with the spokesman saying it's a reminder to
people to avoid unnecessary travel and not ban on people visiting China, Hong
Kong or Macau.