Cabinet eases restrictions on China visits by senior officials

Also amended were regulations concerning Taiwan visits by Chinese professionals to ease the restrictions for Chinese government officials.

Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said the liberalization policy will facilitate the exchanges between the two sides and help Taiwan’s civil servants gain an in-depth understanding of the situation in China, thus contributing positively to establishing healthy relations across the Taiwan Strait.

Liu pledged that the government will make sure not to undermine Taiwan’s security when promoting the policy.

The revised regulations will take effect on the date of their proclamation by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI).

They will allow police officers at rank 3 or higher and career civil servants at grade 11 or higher who have no access to state secrets to visit China for any purposes, including official business and pleasure, after obtaining permission from a screening committee under the MOI, said Deputy Minister of the Interior Lin Join-sane.

For political appointees, local government chiefs and ordinary civil servants with access to state secrets, they can visit China for any purpose other than pleasure, after obtaining permission from the MOI’s screening committee, Lin said.

Political appointees are currently only allowed to visit China for international conferences or activities, and local government chiefs can only do so to take part in conferences related to their work.

Meanwhile, Lin said, the China travel ban on officials engaging in “special services with access to state secrets” will remain to uphold national security and interests, meaning that they are strictly forbidden from visiting china unless given special permission.

These officials include personnel posted overseas, personnel engaging in the research and development of defense or secret technologies, as well as staff of the National Security Bureau, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau.

For civil servants at grade 10 or lower, they will be able to visit China after gaining the approval of the agencies they serve and will no longer be required to apply for permission with the MOI, Lin said.

On visits to Taiwan by Chinese officials, the revised regulations will allow them to come to Taiwan for exchange activities at the invitation of a local authority, a central government agency or the semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation, Lin said.

Chinese officials are currently permitted to visit Taiwan only in a private capacity and if they are invited by a school or civil organization in Taiwan.

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