Chinese police announced on Thursday that they are offering rewards of up to $35,000 ( around ₹31 lakh) to anyone who can help arrest two Taiwanese social media influencers, Wen Tzu-yu and Chen Po-yuan. China accuses the two men of posting “anti-China” content online and supporting the idea of Taiwan becoming fully independent.

According to a statement by the police, Wen and Chen acted as “helpers” of Taiwan independence forces and had a “seriously negative impact.” They urged the public to share any information that could lead to their arrest. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to take control of the island.

However, Taiwan strongly criticised China’s move, saying the reward offer is meaningless because Beijing does not have any real control over Taiwan. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said the reward notice was “just for show” and meant to create fear and division among the Taiwanese public.

Chinese authorities did not clearly state which content caused the accusations. But it is known that in December, Wen released a documentary featuring Chen. The documentary talked about how China invites popular Taiwanese influencers on fully-paid trips and encourages them to promote unification. It highlighted the Chinese government’s attempts to win support from young Taiwanese through social media creators.

China’s police in Fujian province claimed that Wen and Chen had “viciously attacked” China’s policies that aim to improve ties with Taiwan. They said anyone who provides useful information or helps capture the influencers could receive between 50,000 and 250,000 yuan ($7,000 to $35,225).

The documentary received millions of views and sparked strong reactions among Taiwanese groups who oppose China’s political influence. Many in Taiwan saw it as an attempt by Beijing to manipulate public opinion.

Taiwan repeated that the accusations against Wen and Chen are baseless. Liang Wen-chieh, deputy minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, said China often labels people as “advocating independence” without needing any evidence. He said the reward announcement is only to create fear and tension within Taiwanese society.

This is not the first time China has targeted Taiwanese figures. In October, China opened an investigation against Puma Shen, a well-known Taiwanese lawmaker, accusing him of “separatist activities.” China said it plans to pursue legal responsibility against him as well.

The situation shows the growing political tension between China and Taiwan, especially as China continues to pressure individuals who express pro-independence views.