(Central News Agency reporter Li Yawen, Taipei, 9th) Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng today called on the public to pay attention to personal safety when traveling to China. Cases of Taiwanese citizens going missing, being detained for questioning, or having their personal freedom restricted due to involvement in Chinese criminal law totaled 85 people from January to May this year.

Minister Chiu Chui-cheng gave an exclusive interview to online program host Huang Guangqin at noon today.

Minister Chiu urged the public to be mindful of personal safety when traveling to China. He stated that multiple cases have occurred where Taiwanese citizens went missing in China, were detained for questioning, or had their personal freedom restricted due to violations of Chinese criminal law. The total number of related cases was 55 in 2024, 221 in 2025, and a cumulative 85 from January to May this year.

Minister Chiu explained that Taiwanese citizens violating local laws or engaging in religious missionary work in China could become reasons for the other side to "detain people." He cited the example of followers of the I-Kuan Tao (Yiguandao) faith being detained in China. I-Kuan Tao is classified as an evil cult in China, and he urged followers not to travel to China for missionary work at this stage, warning of the risk of arrest.

He also mentioned cases of Taiwanese civil servants being questioned upon entering China. From 2024 to the present, a cumulative total of 13 civil servants have been questioned in China. He cautioned grassroots civil servants not to mistakenly believe that because their rank is not high enough or they do not have access to state secrets, they are not at risk of being questioned.

Minister Chiu suggested that citizens and civil servants should have risk awareness and try to avoid unnecessary trips.

The MAC published data on its social media page on the 1st, showing that from January 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025, it had received a cumulative total of 361 cases of Taiwanese citizens going missing (141 people), being detained for questioning (29 people), or suspected of having their personal freedom restricted (191 people) in China, indicating that the risks of traveling to China continue to rise. (Editor: Chen Kaiyu) 1150609

FACT BOX

  • Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
  • Category: Taiwan