A total of 250 exchanges in China have been reported since last month, the Ministry of the Interior said yesterday, as part of a new initiative to disclose cross-strait visits with the aim of protecting travelers and countering Chinese infiltration efforts.
President William Lai (賴清德) in March announced 17 strategies to respond to intensifying Chinese “united front” efforts, including a call to disclose interactions with China by officials, religious groups and nonprofit organizations.
The ministry last month set up a platform for individuals and groups to disclose their travel dates, destinations and itinerary.
Photo: Screen grab from the Mainland Affairs Council’s Instagram account
Since April 13, when the site went online, 250 entries have been made, it said.
About 40 entries are made per week on average, including 129 by elected officials, 69 by religious groups and 52 by civic groups, it said.
The numbers show that the site is gaining widespread support from the public, thanks in part to its user-friendly design, it said.
The ministry on April 9 and 11 consulted with affected groups to explain how the site works, it said.
The ministry vowed to keep improving the site and offering more guidance on its usage by working with local governments to reach more organizations.
While ensuring privacy, the government would utilize the information for immediate assistance in the event of an emergency while traveling in China, it added.
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