MAC Refutes China's Denial of Interrogating Taiwanese Civil Servants, Cites 13 Cases Since 2024
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced that 13 Taiwanese civil servants have been interrogated by authorities in mainland China since the beginning of 2024. This refutes a denial by China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) and urges the Chinese side to acknowledge the facts. The issue highlights the tensions in cross-strait relations and the risks for Taiwanese civil servants traveling to the mainland.
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- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 19:41
- 🔍 Collected: May 14, 2026 at 20:02 (20 min after Published)
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Central News Agency, Taipei, May 14 - China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) has refuted claims of Taiwanese civil servants being interrogated during their visits to the mainland. In response, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated today that there have been 13 documented cases of such interrogations since the beginning of 2024. The MAC advised the TAO to properly understand the operations of its own national security units and not to 'casually deny' the facts.
The MAC held its regular press conference this afternoon, hosted by Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh.
Liang stated that Taiwanese civil servants are required to request leave and report their travel to the mainland in advance. If they encounter any special situations, they must fill out an incident report. According to records, there have been 13 cases of civil servants being interrogated in the mainland since the start of 2024. He added that it's possible some civil servants did not truthfully report such incidents due to fear or other reasons.
Liang mentioned that China's TAO might not be fully aware of what its national security agencies are doing. He cited past instances where Taiwanese scholars, invited by the TAO system to attend seminars in the mainland, were stopped and interrogated at the airport. This clearly indicates a 'left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing' situation. He advised the TAO to first understand the real situation and not to 'casually talk nonsense and deny' the facts.
Regarding the interrogation of Taiwanese civil servants traveling to the mainland for tourism by local national security personnel, TAO spokesperson Zhang Han stated at a regular press conference on May 13th that they have always encouraged and supported cross-strait exchanges, including tourism. He claimed that as long as individuals do not engage in illegal or criminal activities, there is no need for any concern when traveling to the mainland.
Zhang accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of 'maliciously hyping, spreading rumors, and smearing the mainland' in an attempt to create a 'chilling effect.' He alleged the goal is to obstruct and undermine cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, and to escalate cross-strait confrontation. (Editor: Yang Sheng-ju) 1150514
The MAC held its regular press conference this afternoon, hosted by Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh.
Liang stated that Taiwanese civil servants are required to request leave and report their travel to the mainland in advance. If they encounter any special situations, they must fill out an incident report. According to records, there have been 13 cases of civil servants being interrogated in the mainland since the start of 2024. He added that it's possible some civil servants did not truthfully report such incidents due to fear or other reasons.
Liang mentioned that China's TAO might not be fully aware of what its national security agencies are doing. He cited past instances where Taiwanese scholars, invited by the TAO system to attend seminars in the mainland, were stopped and interrogated at the airport. This clearly indicates a 'left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing' situation. He advised the TAO to first understand the real situation and not to 'casually talk nonsense and deny' the facts.
Regarding the interrogation of Taiwanese civil servants traveling to the mainland for tourism by local national security personnel, TAO spokesperson Zhang Han stated at a regular press conference on May 13th that they have always encouraged and supported cross-strait exchanges, including tourism. He claimed that as long as individuals do not engage in illegal or criminal activities, there is no need for any concern when traveling to the mainland.
Zhang accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of 'maliciously hyping, spreading rumors, and smearing the mainland' in an attempt to create a 'chilling effect.' He alleged the goal is to obstruct and undermine cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, and to escalate cross-strait confrontation. (Editor: Yang Sheng-ju) 1150514