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Chinese lamas' use of fake IDs prompts visa change

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said that it would tighten the issuance of visas to Nepalese, amid a rise in applications from Chinese citizens using fake Nepalese IDs to seek entrance into Taiwan.

Ministry Spokesman Michel Lu (呂慶龍) said that since early this year, there had been an increase in visa applications from Chinese lamas holding fake Nepalese IDs and local police authorities had reported a rise in the number of crimes committed by them.

Lu said that local police investigations had found that some of the lamas were involved in financial irregularities and sexual harassment of women.

Many of the cases showed an increasing number of Chinese lamas entering the country with either a fake Nepalese ID or other problematic documents which granted them Nepalese status.

"The situation has created concerns about ... social safety and therefore the foreign ministry will from now on tighten the review process for visa applications from Nepalese," Lu said.

Nepal currently has no official representation in Taiwan, making the handling of consular affairs for Nepalese difficult.

Currently only Chinese citizens holding a foreign passport or who travel from a third country are allowed to enter Taiwan.

Ordinary Chinese citizens are still barred from traveling here as the Chinese government has yet to list Taiwan as one of the foreign destinations its citizens are allowed to visit.
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