《TAIPEI TIMES》 MAC expands list of banned China postings

ROUNDABOUT: Beijing has sought to recruit Taiwanese to positions previously not forbidden under the law to give the illusion of cross-strait integration, the MAC said

By Chung Li-hua / Staff reporter

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The Mainland Affairs Council （MAC） is to tighten regulations regarding Taiwanese holding official posts in China’s military, government or political parties, adding hundreds of Chinese groups and agencies to its prohibited organizations list.

Article 33 of the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area （臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例） stipulates that Taiwanese cannot hold any position or become a member of Chinese political parties, military, administration or organizations of any political nature listed by the council.

Those who contravene the regulation face a fine of NT$100,000 to NT$500,000, the act says.

The Chinese system of government is complex and the organizational structure sometimes changes, making it impossible to compile an exhaustive list of banned agencies and organizations, the council said.

Beijing has undergone restructuring several times in the past two decades, so it is increasingly difficult for regulations to remain in line with the current situation, it said.

To prevent China from circumventing Taiwan’s regulations, the amended act would ban Taiwanese from holding posts in China’s military, government or any political party and political organization that “is linked to national identity or loyalty,” “conducts united front work against Taiwan” or “is considered a threat to the national security or interests” of Taiwan.

Beijing has in the past few years increased its efforts to promote integration and annexation of Taiwan, as well as to use Taiwanese to influence public opinion, the MAC said.

By recruiting Taiwanese to positions not listed by the council, China aims to create the illusion of cross-strait integration, establish a model for its “united front” campaign and affect public morale, it said.

The amendments are designed to protect national security and stability, and prevent Chinese “united front” efforts and other attempts to infiltrate and divide Taiwan, it said.

The banned list is to include the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots and the Confucius Institute, as well as the People’s Daily （人民日報）, the Qiushi Journal （求是雜誌） and the Guang Ming Daily （光明日報）.

It would also include the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences, the China Academy of Engineering Physics, the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, the China Democratic League, the China National Democratic Construction Association, the China Association for Promoting Democracy, the Chinese Peasants’ and Workers’ Democratic Party, the China Zhi Gong Party, the Jiusan Society and the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES