Published Date: 2021-08-03
A top government
agency in Taiwan says people working in key technology industries will soon
have to apply to travel to China.
The agency behind
the plan is the Mainland Affairs Council. The council is in charge of managing
relations between China and Taiwan. It says it is making the changes on the
grounds of ensuring national security.
Right now,
Taiwanese law stipulates that high-level government personnel have to apply for
permission before travelling to China. That includes civil servants from the
National Security Bureau, Ministry of National Defense, and Bureau of
Investigation under the Ministry of Justice. The rules also extend to people
working alongside the government on issues related to national security and
other confidential matters.
Under the new
rules, people working in key technology industries will also have to apply for
permission from government authorities. The Mainland Affairs Council says it
will be up to the Ministry of Science and Technology to decide exactly which
industries to include in the new plan.
Anyone who travels
without permission and breaks the law will face a fine between NT$2 million
(US$72,000) and NT$10 million (US$360,000).