Lai urges greater transparency in officials' China exchanges

Taipei, March. 13 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Thursday called for a "disclosure mechanism" to ensure central and local government officials remain transparent and accountable to the people when visiting China for exchanges.

"From government officials to elected representatives, from legislators to village and ward chiefs, all should make exchange information public and transparent to be accountable to the people," Lai said at a news conference at the Presidential Office.

Calling China a "foreign adversary" in his speech, Lai attended the news conference following a meeting with senior national security officials on countering China's united front infiltration.

He added that the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) should also establish such a "disclosure mechanism" for public welfare organizations and religious groups engaging in exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

The "disclosure mechanism" for the organizations is intended to prevent Beijing's "interference and united front efforts," Lai added.

Echoing Lai, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) noted that the Legislature has failed to provide details of legislators handling "confidential matters" who are subject to travel restrictions to China, despite it being a requirement under the Act Governing Relations Between the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (Cross-Strait Act).

"We will make efforts to coordinate with the Legislative Yuan on this matter, as it is stipulated in the Cross-Strait Act but has never been enforced," MAC Deputy Head and Spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said at a news briefing in Taipei, held a few hours after Lai's speech.

Under the Cross-Strait Act, individuals handling national security or confidential matters in agencies related to national defense, foreign affairs, technology, intelligence, or China affairs, should apply for permission and obtain approval from agencies such as the MOI and MAC before traveling to China.

Meanwhile, Liang said that since Jan. 1, 2024, the MAC has received reports of 71 Taiwan nationals, including six individuals who have gone missing, 52 who have been detained, and 13 who have been interrogated in China.

"This is only the information we have been able to verify, but the actual number is certainly higher," he said.

The reason, Liang said, could be that many individuals who have been detained either do not seek assistance from the Taiwan government or their cases have not been brought to the MAC's attention.