secession

The Confederacy appropriated the Declaration in an attempt to legitimize secession, with President Jefferson Davis citing “the American idea that governments rest upon the consent of the governed.”

A referendum on secession could be held as soon as next year.

Supporters of "the former regime or terrorist organisations" were barred from membership, as were advocates of "secession, division or seeking foreign intervention".

The aim would be to try to recruit them for a secession movement, DR said.

Any formal declaration of independence by Taiwan could trigger military action from China, which has a law stating it will resort to "non-peaceful means" to prevent the "secession" of Taiwan.