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DPP legislators urge government to monitor tourists

A group of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators yesterday urged the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) administration to strictly monitor Chinese tourists to protect the nation’s interests.

The DPP lawmakers made the appeal at a press conference one day after a trio of Chinese tourists, who had entered Taiwan via a third country, reportedly absconded from their tour group. The whereabouts of the three is unknown.

The National Immigration Agency initially refused to grant visas to the three, but later approved the applications when their travel agency representative in Taiwan agreed to double their safety deposit and to keep a close eye on their movements.

DPP caucus whip Yeh Yi-ching (葉宜津) said the case clearly demonstrated the gravity of the issue of opening the nation up to more Chinese tourists.

She pointed to the example of Japan, which reported 30,000 cases of illegal immigrants from China between 2002 and 2005.

Saying that about 35 percent of foreigners convicted of crime in Japan are from China, she added that the wave of illegal immigration had led to an increase in the crime rate.

Yeh said Taiwan has become the safest destination for illegal Chinese immigrants because they speak the language and can easily blend into society.

Noting that Japan now turns down about 40 percent of applications for entry visas from China, Yeh questioned why the KMT administration had been so eager to open up to more Chinese tourists when doing so could have a “catastrophic effect on public order.”

DPP Legislator Wong Chin-chu (翁金珠) said that approximately 50,000 Chinese have entered Taiwan illegally since 1987 and the government spent about NT$1 billion (US$32.9 million) on repatriating illegals from China between 1996 and 2002.

Wong asked how the government would be able to prevent an increase in this financial burden with the opening up to more Chinese tourists and the potential increase in the number of illegal immigrants.

He further expressed concern that the policy could result in violent criminals from China making their way to Taiwan.

DPP Legislator Lin Shu-fen (林淑芬) also criticized the opening to more Chinese tourists, saying that in the past, Chinese citizens wanting to enter illegally had to spend at least NT$300,000 to obtain a fake passport, which discouraged many from making an attempt. Now, all they need is between NT$30,000 and NT$40,000 and they can enter the country with ease, she said.

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