Taiwan’s top China policy maker Andrew Hsia says that there’s no need for Taiwan to create an entry card for Chinese visitors as a response to a similar move by China. Hsia, who heads the Mainland Affairs Council, was speaking on Monday at the legislature.
China’s controversial decision to replace the original paper travel permits for Taiwanese visitors with a card has been met with concern in Taiwan. Some say the new cards pose a security threat.
Legislators have proposed that Taiwan respond by issuing similar cards to Chinese visitors. Both Interior Minister Chen Wei-zen and Premier Mao Chi-kuo had said that the interior ministry was making plans to that effect. But the ministry later said there were no plans to issue cards, due to security concerns and the effect on cross-strait ties.
Hsia spoke further about the issue on Monday at the legislature, when pressed by an opposition lawmaker to clarify the situation.
“When it comes to Taiwan [issuing entry cards to Chinese visitors], if you take the cost into consideration, then if you’re doing it just as a response, as in – we have to do whatever they are doing, that’s acting on your emotions," said Hsia. "But we need to take the costs and other things into consideration. I don’t think it’s necessary [to issue cards] at this point.”