Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council has raised the travel alert for Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau to an “orange” level, urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel. The advisory arises amidst heightened national security legislation in these regions, which has led to reported cases of unlawful detention, retention, and interrogation of Taiwanese visitors. Straits Exchange Foundation deputy secretary general Tsai Meng-chun highlighted these concerns in a recent statement available here.
China recently introduced new judicial guidelines that impose severe penalties, including the death penalty, for actions supporting Taiwanese independence. These guidelines, detailed here, have contributed to Taiwan’s heightened travel warnings, emphasizing the risks to personal safety for Taiwanese travelers in these territories. The advisory also cautions against discussing sensitive issues, photographing military sites, or carrying political, historical, or religious literature while traveling.
In contrast, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China, dismissed the travel warning as politically motivated. Zhu stressed that the new regulations target only a minority involved in secession and incitement, ensuring that general Taiwanese travelers have no reason to be concerned. Zhu’s detailed statement can be viewed here.
Tensions in the region have escalated recently, exemplified by China’s military maneuvers around Taiwan. These actions followed the inauguration of Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, underscoring Beijing’s discontent with Taiwan’s political stance. More information on these developments can be found here.