Taiwan's Security Agency Agrees to Amend Law on Chinese Stowaway Detention

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has acknowledged a significant security loophole concerning Chinese nationals who enter Taiwan illegally and are awaiting repatriation. The issue, highlighted by Democratic Progressive Party legislator Li Po-yi, centers on the limited 150-day detention period stipulated by current laws, which allows individuals to be released into the community under "detention alternatives" before being sent back.

Legislator Li Po-yi cited the case of a former Chinese naval captain who, after serving an 8-month sentence for illegal entry, was released under a detention alternative upon completion of his 150-day confinement. Li argued that this situation, where individuals awaiting deportation can move freely and even give interviews, poses a national security risk. He has proposed legislative amendments to close this gap, pointing out inconsistencies between the "Cross-Strait People's Relations Act" and the "Immigration Act."

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The detention alternative has become a national security loophole.

MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng agreed that the situation represents a security concern and expressed strong support for amending the law. He indicated that the MAC should have been involved in previous immigration law revisions and supports a joint effort to rectify the issue. The council is concerned about the number of Chinese stowaways and believes the current legal framework is insufficient to manage the risks they pose.

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This is a security concern, and we strongly agree to amend the law.