Key facts
- Taiwan's National Immigration Agency said applicants are reviewed under the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area and tourism permit rules.
- The agency said permits can be refused, revoked or annulled for conduct it deems to violate equal dignity or downgrade Taiwan.
- National Immigration Agency Director Lin Horng-en said the case was handled to uphold national dignity and that review wording will be refined.
- Beijing accused Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party of clinging to a separatist stance and obstructing cross-strait exchanges.
Taiwan's National Immigration Agency confirmed on November 11 that a mainland Chinese tourist applying to visit the island had been asked to sign a handwritten statement declaring Taiwan a sovereign, independent state and that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other. The confirmation followed a post on Threads by a mainland Chinese user who published screenshots of the agency's online application system.
According to the Mirror Media report, the applicant was seeking an entry permit for overseas mainland Chinese residents visiting Taiwan. The report said reviewers flagged the hotel booking because it contained the words "China Taiwan," which they described as wording that downgrades Taiwan, and asked for a new booking without it plus the signed and dated statement uploaded as a correction.
The agency said its staff review mainland Chinese tourist applications under the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area and the tourism permit regulations. It said permits may be refused, and granted permits revoked or annulled, where it finds deliberate conduct that violates equal dignity or downgrades Taiwan.
The Mainland Affairs Council has said the Republic of China is a sovereign state and is not subordinate to the People's Republic of China. The requirement that a tourist make a political statement drew public questioning over whether it was necessary.
National Immigration Agency Director Lin Horng-en said on November 11 that tourists from all countries are welcome but must comply with Taiwan's laws, that the case was handled on the premise of upholding national dignity, and that review communication wording will be refined to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding.
Beijing condemned the demand on November 11, accusing Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party of imposing politically motivated restrictions to obstruct cross-strait tourism and exchanges. It said the party "stubbornly cling[s] to their separatist stance on Taiwan independence."