TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's government has identified widespread regulatory violations among organizations managing sensitive cross-strait relations, with the Ministry of the Interior (內政部) announcing Wednesday (April 9) that an alarming 19 out of 22 social groups handling exchanges with mainland China (the People's Republic of China) and new resident affairs have been operating improperly. Ministry officials disclosed that their comprehensive investigation revealed 86% of these organizations failed to adhere to mandated regulations, resulting in the forced dissolution of six groups that neglected to address compliance issues despite being granted an improvement period.
The regulatory action comes as part of a systematic oversight process, according to a ministry press release detailing the government's annual phased inspection program for national social organizations, which aims to verify compliance with the "Civil Associations Act" (人民團體法令), Taiwan's primary legislation governing civic organizations. The scale of the enforcement effort has been substantial, with authorities having dissolved 490 organizations since last year after scrutinizing their administrative procedures and financial management practices. Ministry officials underscored the critical role these social groups play as foundational elements of Taiwan's civil society, emphasizing that such organizations bear significant social responsibilities and must conduct their activities and operations in strict accordance with legal frameworks.
The investigation uncovered multiple governance irregularities among the targeted organizations, including deceptive registration practices with numerous groups listing identical addresses, systematic failures to convene required membership meetings, and widespread non-compliance with financial reporting obligations. These violations triggered a graduated enforcement response beginning with formal warnings and establishment of compliance deadlines. The ministry issued a stern reminder that organizations found to be violating relevant laws or engaging in activities detrimental to public welfare face escalating penalties under Article 58 of the Civil Associations Act, ranging from initial warnings and mandated improvement periods to the ultimate sanction of forced dissolution for the most serious or persistent offenders.
The regulatory crackdown occurs against a backdrop of heightened security concerns, with the ministry specifically referencing recent media exposés alleging that a chairman of one social organization violated the "National Security Act" (國家安全法) by receiving financial support directly from Chinese sources. In response to these developments, officials emphatically restated the legal obligations of organizations involved in cross-strait exchanges, highlighting the comprehensive legal framework governing such activities. This framework includes three major pieces of legislation: the "Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area" (台灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), which regulates interactions across the Taiwan Strait; the National Security Act, which protects Taiwan's sovereignty; and the "Anti-Infiltration Act" (反滲透法), a newer law specifically designed to counter foreign influence operations.
