MAC urges Taiwanese travelers to China to register online

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) reported on Monday (Nov. 13) about the extensive efforts to promote the "Online Registration System for Taiwanese Citizens Visiting Mainland China" introduced earlier this year.

The MAC launched the system in January 2023 to improve emergency assistance for Taiwanese travelers in China.

However, MAC Minister Chiu Tai-san revealed that of the over one million Taiwanese citizens who traveled to China from January to September, only about 2,000 had registered, resulting in a usage rate of just 0.19%.

This low participation rate was highlighted by Legislator Lo Mei-ling during a Legislative Yuan session. In response, Minister Chiu admitted that while there have been efforts to promote the system, there is a need for improvement. He noted that the MAC is considering various approaches, including collaboration with travel agencies to increase awareness among travelers.

Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung noted that despite over 200,000 Taiwanese traveling to China in August alone, only 554 people registered with the system. Chiu acknowledged the voluntary nature of the system, pointing out the difficulty in enforcing registration when citizens do not anticipate encountering problems in mainland China.

Addressing calls for more effective promotion, Chiu assured that the MAC would intensify its efforts to enhance awareness of the benefits of the registration system.