Two Taiwanese civil servants interviewed at hotel by Chinese police

Taipei, May 7 (CNA) Two government employees received unexpected visits from Chinese public security bureau officers at their hotel late at night during separate trips to China last month, an official said Thursday.

The two civil servants -- one from the National Immigration Agency and the other from the Customs Administration -- reported the incidents after returning home, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said.

They were asked about their family, education and career backgrounds, the purpose of their visit, where they work and their job duties, and had their mobile phones inspected by Chinese police officers, Liang said at the MAC weekly press conference.

The incidents indicated that Chinese authorities had prior information about their trips, including their itineraries and the hotels where they were staying, Liang said, adding that each incident lasted two to four hours.

Liang said in January that 19 government employees had been questioned by Chinese police officers during trips to China since 2023.

Some of the recent cases involved individuals working at the Coast Guard Administration and prosecutors' offices, according to Liang.

Liang advised civil servants not to travel to China unless necessary and suggested they carry a "clean" mobile phone with no sensitive or personal data stored.

Under current rules, civil servants at level 11 and above, as well as those in defense and other sensitive positions, are required to obtain approval from the Ministry of the Interior's joint review committee to travel to China. Those at level 10 and below have to inform the agency where they work of any such trips.