Chinese authorities are to begin issuing new electronic “Taiwan compatriot travel document” (台胞證) cards to Taiwanese visitors today, replacing paper passes.
Though Chinese officials insist the measure is to facilitate cross-strait relations, Taiwanese academics expressed concern over privacy issues and national defense.
Beijing said on Tuesday that Taiwanese travelers can apply to its public security departments above the county level and hand in paper travel passes to obtain the computer-readable cards.
The move follows China’s introduction in July of permit-free treatment for Taiwanese visitors, which removed the need for an entry permit — similar to a visa — and in their place implemented an IC card for automatic entry.
Critics claim that the change is tantamount to downgrading the Taiwanese travel document’s legal status to the equivalent of the “Hong Kong and Macau resident travel permit to enter the neidi” (港澳居民來往內地通行證), also known as “home visit permits” (回鄉證), issued to Hong Kong and Macau residents.
During a visit in July to the US, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Andrew Hsia (夏立言) said China’s unilateral decision to adopt the new IC card at such short notice showed disrespect to the nation.
He said Beijing should pay close attention to the opinions of Taiwanese on controversial issues such as China’s M503 air route, which closely follows the median line of the Taiwan Strait, as well as the introduction of the IC cards.
During another visit to Washington last month, Hsia repeated his concerns, saying several recent moves by China, including the IC card system and the use of an apparent replica of the Presidential Office Building in a military exercise by the People’s Liberation Army, were “very disrespectful.”
National Chung Hsing University professor of international relations Tsai Tung-chieh (蔡東杰) said that China is acting unilaterally because it has concluded from recent experience that it cannot rely on Taiwan’s cooperation to push forward cross-strait relations.
“Therefore, it resolved not to wait for the government’s assent,” Tsai said.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old