Taipei: Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has expressed concerns over China's newly announced entry-exit regulations, which contain ambiguously defined national security clauses and grant authorities considerable discretion to limit individuals' movements, potentially elevating risks for Taiwanese traveling to China.
According to Focus Taiwan, MAC head Chiu Chui-cheng spoke at a legislative session in Taipei, highlighting that Beijing has historically imposed stringent controls on both Chinese citizens and foreign nationals. The new regulations, he noted, primarily formalize these existing practices within a legal framework. Chiu emphasized that while the regulations appear to govern according to law, the criteria for imposing restrictions remain "vague and broad," allowing for arbitrary enforcement by authorities. This ambiguity, he pointed out, is the core reason for public concern in Taiwan.
The regulations, issued by China's State Council on July 31, are set to be implemented on September 15. Article 4 of the regulations permits authorities to prevent Chinese citizens involved in illegal or criminal activities overseas, deemed detrimental to China's "national security and interests," from leaving China for six months to three years upon their return. Additionally, the same article allows for travel bans over export-control or technology violations without specifying the ban's duration.
Article 5 enables authorities to deny entry to foreign nationals for reasons such as false application materials, immigration violations, or being listed on Chinese sanctions. However, the regulations do not clearly outline how these exit-ban provisions apply to Taiwanese visitors in China, nor do they categorize Taiwanese as either Chinese citizens or foreigners. Beijing maintains that Taiwanese are "Chinese citizens residing in the Taiwan region," not foreign nationals.
During the legislative session, when questioned about the increased risks of entering and exiting China for both Chinese and foreign nationals, Chiu affirmed the heightened risks and advised Taiwanese to thoroughly evaluate the situation before traveling to China, ensuring they understand the potential hazards.
China's state-run People's Daily reported on August 1 that the regulations aim to address emerging challenges, such as threats to the safety of Chinese citizens overseas and fraudulent entry applications by foreign nationals. The publication highlighted that exit and entry administration pertains to the "safety and lawful rights and interests" of individuals leaving China, as well as the country's "sovereignty, security, and development interests."