China did not consult with Taiwan before implementing a new policy concerning the entry of Taiwanese visitors into its territory, Premier Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) said yesterday, adding that the government is “extremely dissatisfied” with the lack of discussions.
“It has to be stated quite clearly that this is extremely hurtful to the feelings of our people,” Mao said during a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Yuan.
China notified Taipei about the new electronic card before its trial in July and its full implementation yesterday, but without prior consultations, Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Lin Chu-chia (林祖嘉) said.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
There has been a lack of consultation despite Taiwan’s persistent demand that there should be prior consultations before any important policy concerning cross-strait relations is announced, Lin told lawmakers.
Taiwan had asked Beijing whether the use of the new card might be expanded, but no response has been received, Lin added.
The new credit card-sized travel pass replaces the “Taiwan compatriot travel document” (台胞證) that Taiwanese have used until now.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
In a public notice issued on Tuesday last week, Beijing said Taiwanese could apply to its public security departments above the county level to exchange their travel document for the new card and authorities would stop issuing paper documents yesterday.
Those who hold a paper “Taiwan compatriot travel document” could continue to use it until it expires, Lin said.
To coincide with the introduction of the new card, Beijing began in July to grant permit-free treatment to Taiwanese, which removed the need for an entry permit.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
The integrated-chip card system was implemented on a trial basis on July 1, less than a month after Beijing announced the change, and Taiwan was officially informed of the policy 20 minutes before it took effect, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Andrew Hsia (夏立言) said.
China’s unilateral decision to adopt the new card on such short notice showed disrespect for Taiwan, Hsia said during a visit to the US in July.
The switch to a smart card has created suspicion among many Taiwanese that Beijing is using it to downgrade Taiwan’s status to that of Hong Kong and Macau.
The card is similar to the “Hong Kong and Macau resident travel permit to enter the interior” (港澳居民來往內地通行證), which is also known as a “home visit permit” (回鄉證), critics have said.
Some Taiwanese academics have also voiced concern about possible data security breaches with the use of the card.
Experts have said that the smart chip embedded in the card would make it easy for Taiwanese tourists in China to be subjected to police surveillance.
UPDATED FORECAST: The warning covered areas of Pingtung County and Hengchun Peninsula, while a sea warning covering the southern Taiwan Strait was amended The Central Weather Administration (CWA) at 5:30pm yesterday issued a land warning for Typhoon Usagi as the storm approached Taiwan from the south after passing over the Philippines. As of 5pm, Usagi was 420km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip, with an average radius of 150km, the CWA said. The land warning covered areas of Pingtung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), and came with an amended sea warning, updating a warning issued yesterday morning to cover the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. No local governments had announced any class or office closures as of press time last night. The typhoon
Typhoon Usagi yesterday had weakened into a tropical storm, but a land warning issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) was still in effect in four areas in southern Taiwan. As of 5pm yesterday, Tropical Storm Usagi was over waters 120km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost tip of Taiwan proper, and was moving north at 9kph, CWA data showed. The storm was expected to veer northeast later yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 101kph, with gusts of up to 126kph, the data showed. The CWA urged residents of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) to remain alert to
ONE LAST TALK: While Xi said that Taiwan was a ‘red line,’ Biden, in what is likely his last meeting with Xi as president, called for an end to China’s military activity around Taiwan China’s military intimidation and economic coercion against Taiwan are the main causes of tensions that are destabilizing peace in the Taiwan Strait, Taipei said yesterday while thanking US President Joe Biden for expressing Washington’s firm stance of maintaining peace and stability in the region. Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) met on Saturday for their third meeting and their first talks in seven months on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Lima, Peru. It was likely Biden’s last meeting as president with Xi. During their conversation, Biden reiterated the US’ opposition to any unilateral change to the “status quo” from either
Taiwan would participate in the 2026 APEC summit to be hosted by China after Beijing promised it would ensure the personal safety of attendees, Taiwanese national security sources said yesterday. The APEC Leaders’ Machu Picchu Declaration announced yesterday said that China would host the APEC summit in 2026. Beijing proposed hosting the summit shortly before this year’s gathering began on Friday, a national security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Many APEC members expressed concerns about China hosting the event and said that prior communication over the decision was insufficient, the official said. Taiwan brought up concerns about legal “guidelines” China announced in
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