The government yesterday promised to impose stricter regulations when reviewing applications to use China-registered vehicles in Taiwan, after a car from China’s Yunnan Province that was seen driving around the nation triggered controversy and criticism.
“Taiwanese laws do not permit cars from China to be on the nation’s roads in general. However, the owner of a car registered in China may apply for special permission from the Ministry of Economic Affairs [MOEA]. After permission is granted by the ministry, the owner needs to clear all tariffs and pay a deposit to the Ministry of Finance, before the Directorate-General of Highways can issue a provisional license to the car,” Mainland Affairs Council official Lee Pi-jen (李必仁) told a press conference.
Lee was answering a question by Taiwan Solidarity Union Legislator Lai Chen-chang (賴振昌) about a dark-red Mercedes-Benz with a Yunnan Province license plate that has been seen driving around the nation recently, creating a public uproar, as cars from China are not allowed to be on the road in Taiwan.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
Lai asked whether the owner of the vehicle was in violation of the law and whether the car’s presence could compromise national security.
Deputy Director-General of Highways Huang Yun-kui (黃運貴) said that the particular car, with the license plate number “Yun-A 378TW,” arrived in Taiwan via the Port of Taipei on July 2 and was issued provisional license plates twice, the first valid from July 9 to July 13, and the second from Sept. 12 to Sept. 16.
“We issued the provisional license plates after a nongovernmental organization applied for a provisional license and obtained permission from the MOEA’s Bureau of Foreign Trade,” Huang said. “As far as we know, it was completely within the law for the car to be on the road in Taiwan.”
A division chief from the bureau, Chang Chih-chung (張志忠), said that the Greater Tainan-based Dadongshan Association for Cross-strait Exchanges made the application for the car to be driven in Taiwan “for a special occasion.”
However, Chang was unable to answer when Lai asked what could be defined as “special occasion,” and promised to impose stricter regulations when reviewing future applications.
Lee dismissed rumors that cars from China would be allowed on Taiwanese roads from next month.
“Allowing Chinese cars to be driven around Taiwan would involve national security, road safety, as well as other risks,” Lee said.
“At the moment, conditions allowing Chinese cars to be driven on the nation’s roads do not exist and there is no room for them now,” he added.
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