A Chinese mainland spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that three men from Taiwan are held on suspicion of committing subversion or other action, after Taiwan media reported them as missing.

When asked about a missing retired professor named Shih Cheng-ping, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said Shih, Tsai Chin-shu and Lee Meng-chu are suspected of carrying out activities harming national security. They are currently under investigation, Ma told reporters at a regularly briefing. 

Law enforcement has noticed their families and these suspects' rights are guaranteed while in custody, he added.

The mainland side has consistently attacked activities harmful to national security, and holding them is normal law enforcement behavior, Ma said.

(Cover: Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. /Xinhua Photo)