New Entry Rules for China? Travelers to Mainland Required to 'Submit List of Friends and Family'? MAC Responds with Current Regulations

Civil servants applying to visit relatives in mainland China must submit a 'list of relatives in mainland' and 'contact phone numbers in mainland' to their respective units, prompting concerns from some grassroots civil servants about excessive intrusion into personal privacy. Some legislators have also criticized the measure as disproportionate and questioned the unclear purpose of collecting personal data.

In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated that this regulation has been established and implemented since 2006, and for non-confidential civil servants at or below Rank 10, reviews are conducted independently by their employing agencies, with no involvement from the MAC.

Civil Servants Required to Submit 'List of Relatives and Phone Numbers' When Traveling to Mainland, Criticized as Privacy Violation

According to current regulations, civil servants must submit an application to their respective units when traveling to mainland China. If the purpose is 'visiting relatives,' they must also attach a list of relatives in mainland China and their contact phone numbers.

- Pushback from grassroots civil servants: Some frontline staff have expressed concern that the application requires excessive personal details, raising suspicions of intrusion into private life. - Criticism from legislators: Some legislators argue that the regulation violates the principle of proportionality and lacks clarity on the purpose of personal data collection. They also worry it treats civil servants like spies and invades the privacy of their relatives.

MAC Clarifies Three Key Points: Implemented Since 2006, Reviewed by Individual Agencies

In response to these concerns, the MAC provided the following explanations:

- Regulatory history: The requirement for civil servants to submit relevant information when visiting relatives in mainland China was established by the competent authority, the Ministry of the Interior's Immigration Agency, under Article 9 of the 'Cross-Strait Act.' This rule has been in place since 2006 and has been consistently applied across different political administrations. - Review authority: Applications from non-confidential civil servants at or below Rank 10 (and Police Inspector Rank 4 or below) are reviewed and approved by their respective central or local employing agencies. The MAC does not intervene in internal agency procedures. - Response to legislative criticism: The MAC suggests that legislators should first consult the Immigration Agency to fully understand the regulation's historical background and actual implementation over the years before raising criticism.

Current Review Classification for Civil Servants and Police Personnel Traveling to Mainland China

| Applicable Rank | Involves National Security? | Application and Review Process | |------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------------| | Rank 10 and below (Police Inspector Rank 4 and below) | No involvement in national security, interests, or secrets | Submit travel application to employing unit; reviewed internally by the agency | | Rank 11 and above (Police Inspector Rank 3 and above) | No involvement in national security, interests, or secrets | Must obtain permission from the Ministry of the Interior before traveling |

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is it true that civil servants must provide the phone numbers and names of relatives in mainland China when visiting?

A: Yes. According to regulations from the Ministry of the Interior's Immigration Agency, civil servants applying to visit relatives in mainland China must fill out and submit the list of relatives and their contact information in mainland China.

Q2: When did this regulation requiring civil servants to report relatives' information come into effect?

A: The MAC stated that this regulation has been in place since 2006, established under the authority of the 'Cross-Strait Act.'

Q3: Does the MAC review travel applications for civil servants at or below Rank 10?

A: No. Travel applications for non-confidential civil servants at or below Rank 10 are reviewed and approved independently by their respective central or local employing agencies.