TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The government is considering imposing a fine on citizens who obtain Chinese residence permits.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Friday that to counter the national security threats posed by China’s united front tactics, infiltration, and cognitive warfare, the government will continue advancing national security legal reforms, per Liberty Times.
An official said loopholes in cross-strait exchanges needed addressing and future regulations will be incorporated into the Cross-Strait Act.
An official told the newspaper Sunday that current regulations only mandate for the cancellation of Taiwanese identity and household registration for citizens who apply for a Chinese identity card or hold a Chinese passport. However, there are no regulations Chinese residence applications permit and future amendments to the Cross-Strait Act will include provisions to regulate this.
The source said that in 2018, a draft amendment was proposed to regulate this scenario. The original draft stipulated that those who applied for a Chinese residence permit would be required to report it to the government, and those who failed to do so would face penalties.
In addition, personnel working in sensitive fields would be prohibited from applying for a Chinese residence permit. The Cabinet reviewed the draft but it was not approved in a Cabinet meeting partly due to elections.
The government will now convene agencies to reassess the Cross-Strait Act. Experts, scholars, and government departments will also be consulted to review the latest developments and discuss the framework for new regulations.
The official said the main objective is to strengthen national security and counter the Chinese Communist Party’s united front tactics against Taiwan.
The source said the government will consider whether applying for a Chinese residence permit should be treated as applying for a Chinese residence or identity card and be subject to penalties. If penalties are to be imposed, further legal amendments will be required.
As Hong Kong and Macau have become increasingly integrated into China and serve as channels for China's infiltration into Taiwan, the source said they pose significant national security risks. Therefore, future residency and settlement policies will undergo a comprehensive review.
