"Don't Think Being Grassroots Means You're Safe!" Chen Ming-jer Reveals New Case: Ministry of the Interior Civil Servant Interrogated for 7 Hours by Chinese State Security in Fujian

Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Chen Ming-jer revealed on July 30 that a new case has been reported involving a grassroots civil servant from a subordinate agency of Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior. In June of this year, the individual traveled to Fujian Province but was subsequently interrogated three times by agents from China's state security apparatus, with the total duration reaching 6 to 7 hours. Chen stressed that civil servants at all levels should not assume that being in a junior position makes them irrelevant—because the information they possess is of significant interest to Chinese authorities.

According to a report submitted by the MAC to the Legislative Yuan, between January 2024 and July 22, 2026, a total of 402 cases were reported involving Taiwanese citizens traveling to mainland China who either went missing, were detained for questioning, or had their personal freedom restricted. Breaking down the numbers: 55 cases were reported in 2024, which surged to 221 in 2025—a fourfold increase. From January to July 22, 2026, the number reached 126.

Among these 402 individuals, 154 were reported missing, 32 were detained for interrogation, and 216 were imprisoned by mainland authorities. Of the 216 imprisoned, 134 were linked to fraud cases, 58 to other criminal cases, 23 to religious cases, and 1 to a national security case.

Chen Ming-jer stated at a regular press conference on July 30 that this week another case was received involving a grassroots employee from the Ministry of the Interior who traveled to Fujian in June. The individual was taken from their accommodation to other locations three times for questioning, totaling 6 to 7 hours. Authorities inspected the person's mobile phone, inquired about their job duties, asked for colleagues' names, and probed internal work procedures—all details reported firsthand by the civil servant.

Chen reiterated that grassroots civil servants must not assume that their rank makes them immune to scrutiny when visiting mainland China. "The information you hold is of great interest to them," he warned. While the MAC maintains that traveling to mainland China involves risks and remains a personal decision, it continues to strongly advise civil servants to register their travel plans before departure. Such measures are essential protective protocols designed to safeguard both information security and personal safety.