China’s implementation of the “Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress” on July 1 has drawn attention to new risks that Taiwanese citizens may face when traveling to China for exchanges, business, or tourism.
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) Director Tsai Ming-yen said at the Legislative Yuan on July 6 that in recent years, the Chinese Communist Party has continued to combine legal systems with digital technologies to build a comprehensive surveillance system, according to a report by Taipei Times.
Tsai warned that if Taiwanese citizens become involved in matters governed by Chinese laws while in China, not only could their personal safety be affected, but information including their movements, consumption records, and communications data could also be incorporated into a national-level surveillance system.
On the same day, the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee invited officials from the National Security Bureau, Ministry of the Interior, and Ministry of Justice to present a special report on the integration of national security intelligence related to emerging drug smuggling and international counter-narcotics cooperation.
Before the meeting, Tsai Ming-yen spoke with reporters and issued the above warning regarding China’s newly implemented law and safety risks for Taiwanese citizens traveling to China.
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
Tsai Ming-yen pointed out that in recent years, the Chinese Communist Party has used multiple laws and regulations, including the Anti-Espionage Law, National Security Law, Data Security Law, and Personal Information Protection Law, together with technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and the Skynet surveillance system, to create a highly integrated digital governance model.
He said that once people enter China, records from hotel registrations, transportation movements, electronic payments, internet usage, and communication histories could all be retained, leaving behind a complete digital footprint. After cross-referencing and analyzing this information, authorities could potentially reconstruct an individual’s activity patterns.
Tsai said that if people traveling to China become involved in issues that the CCP considers sensitive or violate relevant Chinese legal regulations, they could become targets of surveillance. He therefore reminded the public that before traveling to China, they should fully understand local laws and the potential risks involved, while increasing awareness of personal data protection and personal safety.
Tsai Ming-yen analyzed that the CCP’s current surveillance model has evolved from traditional human monitoring into a large-scale surveillance mechanism that combines legal, administrative, and technological systems. It covers multiple sources of information, including surveillance cameras, facial recognition, mobile phone location tracking, electronic payment records, and social media data. Through data integration, authorities are able to track individuals’ activities, with the scope of surveillance being extensive, according to an Up Media report.
READ MORE:
- Arthur Liu Testifies Before Congress on Beijing’s Transnational Repression
- Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Activist Lam Wing-Kee, Who Fled to Taiwan After Defying Beijing, Dies
- China Rolls Out New Rules Blocking Petitioners From Reaching Beijing
Regarding the formal implementation of the “Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress,” Tsai said that the legislation involves broad concepts such as ethnic identity, national security, and social stability. Because these terms allow for wide interpretation, there are concerns about future enforcement standards and the scope of application. Taiwan’s national security agencies will continue collecting relevant intelligence and assessing the potential impact on Taiwanese citizens traveling to China for exchanges.
Tsai urged the public to carefully assess risks before traveling to China, whether for tourism, visiting relatives, studying, or business activities. He advised people to avoid carrying sensitive information and to pay attention to their personal conduct and the security of information stored on electronic devices in order to reduce unnecessary legal and cybersecurity risks.
In addition, Tsai mentioned that China and Russia have recently continued to deepen military cooperation. Taiwan’s national security agencies will closely monitor changes in the activities of the Chinese military and the regional security situation, while continuing intelligence gathering and interagency cooperation to safeguard Taiwan’s overall national security.
The National Security Bureau said it will continue monitoring developments in China’s legal system and enforcement practices, issue security advisories to the public when necessary, and urge Taiwanese citizens traveling to China to remain vigilant, conduct risk assessments before departure, and take measures to protect personal information in order to safeguard their own security and rights.
