Beijing defends new entry-exit rules

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, slams the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for creating obstacles to cross-Strait exchanges and misleading the public with false claims at a regular news conference on Wednesday.

Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party administration earlier claimed that new mainland Chinese entry and exit management regulations could affect Taiwanese people working and investing in the mainland.

The Taiwan Affairs Office has rejected those concerns, stressing that the new rules are intended to protect the legitimate rights of people travelling between the mainland and Taiwan. The spokesperson accused the DPP administration of “sensationalising the issue with malicious intentions”, saying it had repeatedly restricted cross-Strait exchanges and sought to prevent people on both sides from developing closer ties. The DPP administration was also said to be using various tactics, including suppression, intimidation and rumour-mongering.

A new regulation on exit and entry administration issued by the State Council, which will take effect on Sept 15. Under the rules, individuals may be subject to exit restrictions on grounds including national security or export controls.

Zhu Fenglian says the regulations are designed to standardise entry and exit management, protect the legitimate interests of people entering and leaving the country, and safeguard China’s sovereignty, national security and development interests.