The Mainland Affairs Council says China's newly announced entry-exit regulations potentially increase the risks faced by Taiwan traveling visiting the country.
According to the council, the regulations contain vaguely defined national security provisions and give authorities broad discretion to restrict people's movement.
Speaking at a legislative hearing, council minister Chiu Chui-cheng said the new regulations have largely placed existing practices, which impose "very strict" controls on both Chinese citizens and foreign nationals in China, under a formal legal framework.
Chiu told lawmakers that the conditions governing such restrictions remain "vague and broad" and could be applied arbitrarily by the authorities and lack of clearly defined legal requirements is the fundamental reason the regulations have caused concern in Taiwan.
The regulations are scheduled to take effect on September 15.
Article 4 of the regulations allows the authorities to bar Chinese citizens who have engaged in illegal or criminal activities overseas deemed harmful to China's "national security and interests" from leaving China for six months to three years following their return.
However, the regulations do not explicitly state how the new exit-ban provisions will apply to Taiwanese visiting China, nor do they classify Taiwanese as Chinese citizens or foreigners.
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