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MAC urged to raise China travel advisory due to new spying laws

ROC Central News Agency

07/05/2023 08:55 PM

Taipei, July 5 (CNA) The opposition Taiwan Statebuilding Party (TSP) on Wednesday urged Taiwan's government to upgrade a travel advisory for China, Hong Kong, and Macau after Beijing recently adopted two laws on foreign relations and counter-espionage activities.

TSP Chairman Wang Sing-huan (王興煥) told a press conference that China's Foreign Relations Law and the revised Counter-Espionage Law, which both took effect on July 1, are arbitrary in nature and designed to undermine human rights.

Under the laws, what can be considered illegal can be arbitrarily interpreted by the Chinese government, to the extent that it might invoke the laws to assert extraterritorial jurisdiction, Wang said.

As a result, it should be considered an "imperial statement" from Beijing, Wang said.

The Foreign Relations Law stipulates the principles and conditions for China to take measures to counter foreign nations, individuals and organizations amid rising challenges in foreign relations and intervention in its domestic politics, according to China's Global Times.

The new Counter-Espionage Law expands the definition of espionage to cover such activities as cyberattacks against state organs and the scope of protection against theft to include documents, data, materials, and items related to national security and interests, the newspaper reported recently.

On June 30, the U.S. Department of State issued a "Level 3" travel advisory urging its citizens to "reconsider" travel to China and "exercise increased caution" when traveling to Hong Kong, and Macau, due to "arbitrary enforcement of local laws," Wang said.

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Taiwan's top cross-strait affairs agency, should follow the practice of the United States to issue warnings to inform people of Taiwan that if they enter China, they might be "exposed to unknown dangers," Wang added.

Under the U.S.'s four-tier advisory system, "Level 3" is the most serious warning, short of a "do not travel" advisory, and states that those traveling to China may risk being wrongfully detained or banned from leaving the country due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

Since October 2022, MAC has kept a "Level 2" advisory in place China, Hong Kong, and Macau, with travelers cautioned to mind their safety.

Of a few comments recently made by the MAC, it said that the revised Counter-Espionage Law would significantly increase the risks Taiwanese nationals face in their travels to China.

The MAC suggested that people carefully assess their safety concerns and register with the government's system about their travel plans in China before making their trip to ensure immediate assistance from the government in the event of emergency situations while in China.

Asked by CNA for a response to the TSP Wednesday, the MAC said it has no further comment.

(By Wang Yang-yu, Lee Ya-wen and Shih Hsiu-chuan)

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