CURBS:The tightening of rules on travel to China is based on an ‘assumption of guilt,’ Wu Den-yih said, adding that they are ‘overly stringent and inappropriate’
Taipei Timnes
Date: Jul 09, 2017
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairperson-elect Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) yesterday said he would
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman-elect Wu Den-yih, third left, holds a piece of calligraphy at a joint international art exhibition at Taipei’s Songshan Cihui Temple yesterday. Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
not put too much stock into KMT member Chang Ya-chung’s (張亞中) criticism that he was too “soft” on the Executive Yuan’s tightening of rules on former officials cognizant of sensitive information who plan to visit China.
The Executive Yuan on Thursday passed a draft amendment that introduces more stringent penalties for retired high-ranking military officers and senior political appointees who engage in political activities in China.
Under the draft amendment to 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), former high-ranking military officers and political appointees are prohibited from participating in political activities in China for 15 years after they retire. Those who violate the regulation can have their monthly pension payments suspended or face a fine of up to NT$5 million (US$163,345).
According to the new regulations, military officers ranked lieutenant general or higher, deputy chiefs and chiefs of the National Security Bureau, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mainland Affairs Council and chiefs of intelligence agencies are prohibited from attending events and activities hosted by Chinese leaders and making gestures that harm the country’s national dignity, such as saluting flags and emblems, or singing songs that symbolize Chinese political power. [FULL STORY]
