On August 18, 2026, the Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China stated that the new entry and exit regulations issued by the Chinese Communist Party authorize local governments to implement them, but the provisions are vague and will be enforced starting from September 15. This has posed a serious threat to the personal safety of nationals and people should carefully assess the risks when traveling to mainland China.
Eastern University’s Mainland China and Regional Development Research Center held a seminar on the impact of the new CCP entry and exit regulations on cross-strait exchanges on the 17th. The meeting was co-chaired by Mainland Affairs Council Chair Qiu Chuizheng and Lin Zili, Director of the Mainland Research Center at Eastern University. Deputy Chair Shen Youzhong served as the keynote speaker, with participation from professors such as Cai Dongjie, Tan Weien, Yoo Chiwei from the International Politics Research Institute of National Chung Hsing University, Professor Zhang Chunyan from Jinan University, and Associate Professor Liu Minghao from the Politics Department of Eastern University.
Qiu Chuizheng pointed out that the CCP’s “new entry and exit regulations” not only clarify existing measures but are also vague and highly arbitrary, posing a serious threat to the personal safety of nationals. Shen Youzhong emphasized that in the face of the asymmetrical political environment and legal structures between the two sides of the strait, the government will continue to strengthen early warning measures and response mechanisms to ensure risk management.
Qiu Chuizheng stated that although the CCP officially claims that the “new entry and exit regulations” are aimed at “safeguarding national sovereignty and security,” in essence, they aim to make the CCP’s strict border controls explicit, attempting to create an image of governance by law. Additionally, since the CCP regards Taiwan nationals holding Mainland Travel Permits as its citizens, there is a possibility of using this provision to restrict the entry and exit of Taiwanese people to mainland China.
He noted that the new regulations include electronic data checks and clauses allowing restriction of exit reasons without notification in cases involving national security or criminal investigations, significantly expanding the CCP’s powers and enhancing information monitoring and administrative discretion over border personnel. The broad and vague definitions in the regulations grant law enforcement personnel at the border significant flexibility and discretionary interpretation.
Especially concerning are the new provisions on “export control” and “technology import and export management,” which pose a high-risk group for arbitrary enforcement of regulations to mainland Taiwanese business people, corporate executives, and employees in technology and semiconductor industries.
Qiu Chuizheng highlighted that in recent years, the CCP has continuously escalated national security concerns through revisions and additions to national security laws such as the Anti-Espionage Law, National Security Law, 22 Punitive Measures for Independence, and the recent National Unity and Progress Promotion Law. These statutes lack clarity and fall short of the standards of a civilized society based on the rule of law. With the new entry and exit regulations in effect, individuals traveling to mainland China or already there may be subject to entry and exit control measures at any time, with their actions overseas possibly leading to prosecution. This poses a major threat to human rights, resulting in significant uncertainty and security threats.
Qiu Chuizheng told the media in an interview that the new CCP entry and exit regulations grant significant discretion to the competent authorities, extending border control from the central government to local authorities. Concerned about the relative neglect of human rights protection and the vague scope of the regulations, there is a worry that Taiwanese people may be able to enter mainland China but not leave. Individuals who engage in actions overseas that violate the CCP’s national security and interests can also face measures such as being prohibited from exiting for 6 months to 3 years, which constitutes extraterritorial enforcement.
Shen Youzhong pointed out that the new CCP entry and exit regulations highlight the essence and risks of its “securitization” of governance. Faced with internal governance challenges and external pressures, the Beijing authorities have not pursued institutional reforms but rather, driven by a high level of insecurity, responded by consolidating power through various national security regulations. This shift from commercial, commodity, and technical imports and exports to the level of national security poses risks to countries engaging with China and impacts regional security.
Shen Youzhong further emphasized that industries with specific ties to Taiwan, as well as technology and semiconductor industries and related supply chains, civil servants, and religious figures, need to pay attention to personal safety when traveling to mainland China. In addition to providing ongoing early warning information, the government will develop various assessment mechanisms to ensure risk management while balancing the personal safety of nationals and the security of industrial chains.