Controversy over popular mainland Chinese ID cards in Taiwan prompts crackdown
Companies accused of helping thousands of Taiwanese apply for the documents are investigated, amid warnings over Beijing’s intentions
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has vowed to take stringent action against people found in violation of local laws, which prohibits the holding of valid identity documents for both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
In addition to reiterating the legal consequences – which include the revoking of an offender’s voting and other civil rights – Taiwan is launching an extensive investigation to tackle the issue.
The controversy erupted in late December when two Taiwanese influencers released a video alleging that Beijing had been enticing the island’s residents into applying for mainland ID cards as part of a broader strategy to sway public opinion.
In the video, a Taiwanese businessman claims that 4,000 residents applied for ID cards in the coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province, half of them successfully, without having to relinquish their local identity documents or mainland travel permits.
According to an unnamed intermediary in the video, about 100,000 Taiwanese have identity cards issued on the mainland – a revelation that sparked widespread concern on the island.
Beijing moved to quell the disquiet, insisting in January that Taiwanese travelling to the mainland to study, work or settle down were making “their own independent choice”.