Fujian issued a city pass that sparked controversy as some legislators see it as an infringement of Taiwan's sovereignty.
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The Fujian Province of China has introduced a new “Fujian-Matsu City Pass” card for residents of the Matsu Islands. The card features a giant statue of the sea goddess Matsu as a prominent design element, positioned in the bottom right corner of the card. The launch of this card has sparked a heated debate among legislators and locals.
The card has an initial pre-loaded value of 300 renminbi, the official currency of China (which is approximately US$42). Cardholders receive discounts on transportation and hotel accommodation. It also includes rental housing benefits for Taiwanese residents.
DPP Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) criticized the card, calling it an infringement upon Taiwan's sovereignty, while KMT Legislator Yeh Yuan-Chih (葉元之) expressed confidence in Taiwan’s resilience against such attempts at political influence.
Lienchiang County Magistrate Wang Chung-ming (王忠銘) announced the card's issuance on Facebook in February and encouraged Matsu residents to apply, raising concerns regarding the collection of personal data and whether Wang’s publicizing of the card bypasses central government oversight.
The Lienchiang county government has remained relatively subtle in response to allegations of promoting Chinese policies, stating it merely aims to assist Matsu residents and allow individuals to apply at their discretion upon entering China.
Some concerns remain about whether it is acceptable to promote the Fujian-Matsu City Pass without first going through the central government. DPP Legislator Hsu Chih-Chieh (許智傑) believes this matter should be handled by the Mainland Affairs Council in a unified manner, while KMT Legislator Lee Yen-Hsiu (李彥秀) says the needs of Matsu residents should be the priority.