“Remind Taiwanese of Risks When Traveling to China, Mainland Affairs Council Encourages Utilizing Registration Platform”

The Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China (MAC) is subsidizing the Travel Industry Association to hold a briefing session, using specific cases to explain the risks of Taiwanese people traveling to the mainland and encouraging them to make use of the “Taiwanese Citizens’ Travel to Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau Dynamic Registration System” platform before departing.

MAC issued a press release on the 15th, stating that in response to various threats posed by mainland China through cross-strait exchanges, it is necessary to raise awareness of the risks of Taiwanese people traveling to the mainland. The council is subsidizing the Travel Industry Association to hold an event in Taipei to explain the safety precautions for cross-strait tourism and the registration system for Taiwan’s citizens traveling to the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau. By strengthening communication with industry stakeholders, they aim to reduce the potential risks and accidents when traveling to mainland China.

In light of the series of national security laws issued by the Chinese Communist authorities, including the “Opinions on Lawfully Punishing the ‘Taiwanese Independence’ Stubborn Separatists Advocating Splitting the Country” (referred to as the 22 Punishments for Independence), which threaten the personal safety of Taiwanese people traveling to the mainland, the government raised the travel advisory level to “orange” starting from June 27, 2024, advising citizens to avoid non-essential travel.

According to MAC statistics, from January 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, there have been 82 cases of Taiwanese people going missing in mainland China, 13 cases of being detained for questioning, and 60 cases of restriction of personal freedom. Based on information from the National Security Bureau, incidents of Taiwanese people being questioned upon arrival in the mainland have doubled.

During this briefing session, MAC provided examples of 11 types of behaviors by the Chinese Communist Party that arbitrarily arrest, prosecute, or restrict the personal freedom of Taiwanese people using espionage and other national security charges. These examples were used to explain the risks of Taiwanese people traveling to the mainland and to provide reminders and suggestions for those who truly need to travel there. The agency encouraged individuals to register in the “Taiwanese Citizens’ Travel to Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau Dynamic Registration System” set up by MAC in order to facilitate government assistance in times of emergency.

MAC emphasized that this registration is not mandatory, and the information provided by citizens will be kept confidential and personal privacy will be maintained in accordance with the law. As travel agencies are an important intermediary for Taiwanese people traveling to the mainland, MAC asked for their assistance in promoting and explaining relevant matters toward the government.

“The industry participation in the Taipei briefing session was very enthusiastic,” stated MAC. The issues raised by industry operators, such as whether the orange warning restricts or prohibits Taiwanese travel to the mainland, the mandatory nature of the “Taiwanese Citizens’ Travel to Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau Dynamic Registration System,” and how to ensure the protection of personal data and privacy were responded to and discussed by MAC and the Tourism Bureau during the briefing session with industry stakeholders.

To ensure that more Taiwanese people understand the risks of traveling to the mainland and register, MAC intends to continue subsidizing the Association to hold briefing sessions in Kaohsiung and Taichung on April 24th and 28th.