Taiwanese officials push back on 'spy' claims over China travel rules for civil servants

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has addressed criticism from Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Weng Hsiao-ling, who argued that current regulations for civil servants traveling to mainland China treat them unfairly. Weng specifically targeted the requirement for civil servants to submit an application, including a list of relatives and contact phone numbers in China, to their employing unit.

Weng likened this process to treating civil servants as spies, suggesting it infringes upon their privacy and that of their relatives. She voiced her concerns that such measures create an atmosphere of suspicion towards public employees engaging in family visits.

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Civil servants traveling to China to visit relatives must submit an application to their unit, attaching a list of relatives and contact phone numbers in China, which was criticized by KMT legislator Weng Hsiao-ling as treating civil servants like spies.

In response, the MAC emphasized that these regulations were established by the Immigration Agency in 2005, based on Article 9 of the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. The council pointed out that these rules have been consistently applied across different political administrations and have not changed. The MAC clarified that applications for non-secretarial civil servants (Rank 10 and below) traveling to China for family visits are typically approved by their respective employing agencies, and the MAC does not intervene in this internal personnel management process.

The MAC urged legislators to consult with the relevant authorities, such as the Immigration Agency, before raising questions. They believe that providing detailed explanations of the regulations' history and implementation would help prevent misunderstandings and mitigate public controversy. The council affirmed that while public policy can be rationally discussed, it is important to ensure that discussions are informed by accurate information.

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We believe that the competent authority will provide detailed and necessary explanations to help legislators grasp the history of the establishment of relevant regulations and the actual implementation status over the years, which can avoid misunderstandings and help resolve social disputes.