TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China's new entry and exit rules could allow Taiwanese travelers into the country but prevent some from leaving, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) warned Monday.
Speaking at a forum at Tunghai University, Chiu said the rules give Chinese authorities broad discretion over border controls. He said they also extend border-control powers from the central government to local authorities, CNA reported.
Chiu said the regulations are vague and provide weak protections for individual rights. People could face exit restrictions if Chinese authorities decide their actions outside China violate national security or national interests.
Such restrictions could last from six months to three years, he said. Chiu warned that this creates uncertainty for Taiwanese traveling to China.
Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung (沈有忠) said the rules could affect Taiwanese businesspeople, students, professionals, and government employees. He said people traveling with a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents could also fall under the regulations.
Shen said people working in technology and semiconductor supply chains should be especially cautious. He also identified people known for outspoken political views, those with business assets in China, and those with links to religious groups as potentially facing greater scrutiny.
Lower-level civil servants should not assume they face little risk because they hold junior positions or are visiting only as tourists, Shen said. He added that more Taiwanese have recently been questioned after entering China.
Shen also cited a case involving a person of Chinese origin who later became a Japanese citizen. He said Chinese authorities required the person to resume Chinese nationality and then prevented the person from leaving China.
National Chung Hsing University professor Tan Wei-en (譚偉恩) said the rules give administrative authorities greater power to stop certain people from leaving China. Tunghai University assistant professor Liu Ming-hao (劉明浩) said workers in advanced technology may face particularly strict controls.
Liu said people working in artificial intelligence, defense technology, rare-earth refining, aerospace, and nuclear fusion could face greater difficulty leaving China. Semiconductor workers may also face restrictions depending on their employer and the technology they handle.
National Chung Hsing University professor Tsai Tung-chieh (蔡東杰) said enforcement of Chinese regulations can be political and selective. He warned that local officials may apply the rules too broadly because of bureaucratic pressure, self-protection, or performance targets.
Tsai said Taiwan's government should identify groups that may face greater risk of being flagged by Chinese authorities. He also urged officials to prepare possible scenarios and give travelers clearer warnings.
National Chi Nan University professor Chang Chun-yen (張春炎) said China's border controls increasingly focus on digital information as well as individuals. He said some travelers may delete social media accounts or change how they communicate online because they fear their digital activity could be used against them.
