MAC Press Release No. 020
The amendments made by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) to the appendix to the public notice that prohibits Taiwanese citizens from holding positions within the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) political parties, government, or military are effective May 2, 2024. These amendments provide a more accurate reflection of the current, adjusted structure of the CCP’s political, governmental, and military organizations, while also clearly illustrating the nature of relevant organizations and aligning them with the current reality. This update is intended to ensure Taiwan’s security and stability and to thwart the CCP’s attempts at infiltrating and dividing Taiwan through united-front work.
The MAC explained that under Article 33, Paragraph 2 of the “Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area,” as amended and promulgated in 2003, violators would be subject to the penalties stipulated in Article 90 of the Act, and Taiwanese citizens were prohibited from becoming a member of or holding a position in any political, governmental or military organizations of the CCP included in the 2004 public notice issued by the MAC, after consultation with the relevant competent authorities. However, since these organizations have undergone numerous major changes in recent years, and the public notice issued in 2004 had not been updated in the intervening two decades, the public notice no longer reflected the current structure of these CCP organizations. Consequently, the MAC worked with the relevant competent authorities to revise the appendix to the public notice and complete the necessary legal procedures. The amended public notice was issued after receiving approval from the Executive Yuan.
The MAC highlighted the following major amendments:
1. The CCP’s political, military and administrative organizations have been aligned with their current structures, and the relevant organizations are clearly listed.
2. The scope of the regulations has been expanded to include a list of institutions, organizations, and groups that are political in nature, such as the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, the All-China Youth Federation, and Confucius Institutes, along with their affiliated institutions, businesses, groups, offices, branches, etc.
3. The scope has been broadened to incorporate any institution, organization, or group affiliated with the CCP’s political parties, military, administration, or that is political in nature and involved in matters concerning national identity, national loyalty, or united-front work against Taiwan, or that may jeopardize national security or interests of Taiwan. Such regulatory expansion was aimed at preventing the CCP from deliberately evading Taiwan’s regulations given the CCP’s unique political system and the constant changes made to its organizational structure and the names of its organizations.
The MAC emphasized that the CCP’s persistent efforts to undermine the sovereignty of the Republic of China and continued refusal to renounce the use of force against Taiwan pose a significant threat to national security and social stability. The MAC reminds Taiwanese citizens to bear in mind the differences between the political and economic systems on either side of the Taiwan Strait. Individuals seeking employment in mainland China are urged to thoroughly evaluate associated risks and, in order to avoid serving in positions that may jeopardize Taiwan’s national security or interests, to ensure they are personally in compliance with the “Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.” Furthermore, the MAC pledges to continue to actively fulfill its responsibilities as a competent authority and to review and revise relevant legislation in response to the cross-Strait dynamics.