Taiwan passports dupe other countries

Independence activists who have produced "Republic of Taiwan" passports claim they have successfully been granted visas from some nations -- including those with diplomatic ties with Taiwan -- by using the travel documents.

An anonymous person who identified himself as a citizen of the Republic of Taiwan showed a local Chinese-language newspaper such a passport, which bears stamps of visas from several Central and South American countries. The passport's design looks exactly like a Republic of China passport.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokewoman Katherine Chang (張小月) said that if such cases prove to be true, the ministry would inform other nations to keep an eye out for the fake documents.

Camaron Kao (高金郎), the Taiwan Independence Party's (建國黨) deputy secretary-general, said the passports have encouraged them to keep striving for the establishment of their own nation. He added that this was the first step for the Republic of Taiwan to gain international recognition.

Ministry officials warned that if people attempt to use the fake passports to enter Taiwan or apply for visas from the US or European countries, they would face legal repercussions and that the false documents would be confiscated.