Premier Mao Chi-kuo says China has responded positively to Taiwan’s protest against its implementation of ID cards for Taiwanese citizens visiting the mainland.
The government lodged a strong protest after the ID cards issued by China went into effect Monday.
Mao said China has already clarified the name and its use of the ID cards.
Mao said, “[China’s] Taiwan Affairs Office has already responded to the two requests that we asked it to clarify. First, the information on ID cards and the ‘Taiwan Compatriot Permit’ must be the same. Also, the ID cards are for travel use only. China has responded positively and we will continue monitoring how the cards are used.”
China notified Taiwan two days earlier of its unilateral decision of putting the ID cards in place. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Andrew Hsia called the short notice inappropriate.
Hsia said the government will demand that China give Taiwan enough time to respond when matters of importance happen in the future.
Meanwhile, a KMT lawmaker asked the government to cancel the high-level cross-strait talks possibly scheduled in October to safeguard Taiwan’s dignity.