April 19, 2017
MAC Press Release No. 29
In the case involving Zhang Xiangzhong, a Chinese mainlander who left his tour group during a visit to Taiwan, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) under the Ministry of the Interior, in conjunction with the relevant agencies, examined the information and documentation provided by Mr. Zhang and determined that his case did not meet the current rules for special cases of long-term residence and is inconsistent with the spirit of the relevant draft amendments. With assistance from the NIA, Mr. Zhang smoothly departed Taiwan with his group today (April 19, 2017) unforced.
The MAC stated that Zhang Xiangzhong entered Taiwan for the purpose of tourism on April 12. On April 13, he abandoned his tour group and went missing. The NIA found him in Xindian on April 17 and brought him back to the agency to hear his views and take a record. The NIA yesterday (April 18) convened a meeting with related agencies to study and discuss the written transcript and information and documents provided by Mr. Zhang. On the afternoon of the same day, the relevant authorities met with Mr. Zhang Xiangzhong to clearly understand his position and appeal. After careful examination, the related agencies determined that it would be difficult to recognize the applicability of the case under the current rules for long-term residency or provisions of the relevant draft amendments. Mr. Zhang fully understood this explanation and agreed to depart with his original tour group upon completion of the travel period, in accordance with the rules of the Cross-Strait Tourism Agreement.