TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is screening Chinese nationals' social media when reviewing their entry applications, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said on Wednesday.

MAC deputy head Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said the agency has been considering the social media content of Chinese nationals applying to enter Taiwan, per CNA. Liang said the process is to screen for "remarks belittling Taiwan,” but he did not provide examples. 

During the legislative meeting, DPP Legislator Wang Yi-chuan (王義川) called for increased restrictions on Chinese nationals to counter United Front efforts in Taiwan. Wang referred to reports that the US has been screening the social media of immigrants and visa applicants, including students, for national security reasons.

Liang said the social media content of students from China would not be subject to scrutiny. 

However, DPP Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) argued against any government actions that could threaten freedom of speech in the name of national security. Chuang said clear laws must be established if the government continues screening social media. 

Chuang said that if the government wants to punish people for certain political stances, a lack of legal provisions would create a chilling effect on Taiwanese society.

The meeting comes after three Chinese nationals in Taiwan had their marriage-based residence permits revoked by the National Immigration Agency. They were ordered to leave the country for supporting a Chinese military invasion of Taiwan on social media.

The legal basis for their deportation was Article 18 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, which applies to Chinese nationals in Taiwan. The issue sparked debates over free speech and the necessity for a broader law to ban speech promoting war or Chinese military action against Taiwan.