Matsu Travel Pass Under Scrutiny: Taiwan's Control Yuan Raises Concerns

Officials Urge Review of Fujian-Matsu City Pass, Citing Potential National Security Risks.

The Control Yuan in Taiwan has called for a thorough review of actions taken by the Lienchiang County (Matsu) Government concerning its promotion of the Fujian-Matsu city pass, expressing concerns that these actions may align with China's "united front" tactics. The Executive Yuan and the Mainland Affairs Council are urged to investigate.

A Control Yuan investigation, spearheaded by member Lin Wen-cheng (林文程), highlighted how the county government's directive to promote the city pass could inadvertently support Chinese efforts to influence the region. The pass, introduced in February last year by China’s Fujian Provincial Government, offers a preloaded 300 yuan (US$41.07) to encourage residents to travel to Fujian, potentially drawing them closer economically and socially.

The investigation revealed that the county government may lack a sufficient understanding of the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, suggesting the need for improved training for officials, according to Lin.

Lin emphasized that Lienchiang County's proximity to China should make it particularly vigilant against Beijing's "united front" strategies. He further stated that the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) objective to take over Taiwan, considered "the enemy" under Taiwanese law, necessitates caution.

The pass is viewed as a potential tool to collect personal information from residents, with concerns raised that the county government has not implemented adequate safeguards and is actively undermining them. Lin expressed worries that the program's rhetoric could pose a national security risk.

The report also pointed out a lack of transparency surrounding key details, including the issuing organization and the pass's validity, which indicates a cavalier attitude. Moreover, the reliance on WeChat for cross-strait exchanges has resulted in a glaring absence of documented communications between the Lienchiang and Fujian governments, potentially hindering future judicial accountability.

Lin urged the council to discourage Lienchiang County and other outlying island governments from similar initiatives with China. He suggested that the council needs to maintain closer communication with Lienchiang and Kinmen county governments to protect national sovereignty and dignity, as the council seems ill-informed about CCP attempts to foster pro-unification sentiment among the outlying islands.