The nation experienced an upsurge of illegal activities among Chinese tourists last year, with 2,152 acts of misconduct and disorderly acts reported between January and October last year, which was almost twice as many as in all of 2013, when a total of 1,415 cases were reported, according to an upcoming report by Control Yuan member Liu Te-hsun (劉德勳).
The National Security Bureau is planning an extensive investigation of the recorded illegal activities involving visitors from China, including a review of safety regulations and increasing national security awareness among government agencies, the bureau told Liu, who is preparing a report on the issue to be released this week.
Amid recurrences of identity concealment and unauthorized activities among Chinese tourists, the bureau told Liu that close background checks of Chinese tourists are problematic.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
As the current visa application system requires applicants to file online requests and the National Immigration Agency must review applications within 48 hours, the agency could not verify applicants’ personal information if they intentionally conceal important details, the bureau reportedly told Liu.
According to Liu, in response to the bureau’s statement, the immigration agency said that it would verify applicants’ identity on a case-by-case basis, and it could refuse or revoke entry permission if applicants or visa holders fail to disclose truthful information, adding that violators would be blacklisted and barred from entering Taiwan for a certain period of time.
The Control Yuan has raised concern over Chinese tourists following a security breach at Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信) in October last year, when Chinese national Wu Xin (吳昕) gained access to an off-limits machine room inside the nation’s largest telecommunications company.
Wu posted dozens of photographs of machines and equipment from inside the Chunghwa Telecom facility on social media site WeChat, while claiming that the photographs were from a “top-secret agency” in Taiwan and that he was the “first Chinese ever to enter a Taiwanese military base.”
The company’s security surveillance was lax, and the incident had not come to Chunghwa Telecom’s attention until the bureau notified the company, the Control Yuan said.
However, there is no evidence suggesting that Wu was involved in espionage, the bureau said.
If any such evidence surfaces, the bureau said it would press charges against Wu, adding that he would also face disciplinary actions if he is found to have engaged in activities other than his stated purpose of entry.
The National Communications Commission levied a NT$2.5 million (US$78,800) fine on Chunghwa Telecom following the security breach, the Control Yuan said.
A senior Chunghwa Telecom employee surnamed Wang (王) who took Wu into the machine room was demoted, transferred and given a major demerit, while his supervisors were reprimanded for inappropriate supervision and failure to maintain on-site security, the Control Yuan added.
Liu said that it is necessary to raise awareness about national security across government units, while security and immigration authorities have to employ a more “active” mechanism concerning information and national security in the face of surging numbers of foreign tourists.
“National security does not rely solely on the National Security Bureau and the Ministry of National Defense, but on citizens as well,” he added.
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