Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office

Starting from Thursday, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) has adopted two new measures to further facilitate Taiwan residents' study, work and life on the mainland, said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at press conference. 

Under the new policy, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents who lose, damage, or forget to carry their travel permits to apply for a temporary electronic permit valid for seven days, enabling them to board flights and trains within mainland cities, Chen said.

The NIA also launched a verification service linking travel and residence permits, Chen said.

The public security authorities' immigration management departments have introduced a series of policy measures to facilitate document processing, border clearance and the use of entry and exit documents for Taiwan residents, striving to create a better development environment for them in the mainland, said the spokesman.

For a long time, the public security authorities' immigration management departments have placed great importance on and lawfully protected information security, Chen said, emphasizing that these services require voluntary application and strict identity verification, ensuring the security of personal information.

Chen also criticized Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities for misleading the Taiwan public by equating residence permits issued to people from Taiwan on the mainland with ID cards held by mainland residents.

"We solemnly clarify that the residence permits issued to people from Taiwan on the mainland and the ID cards held by mainland residents are fundamentally different documents in nature. The residence permits for Taiwan residents was introduced to meet the needs of Taiwan compatriots studying, working, starting businesses and living on the mainland," Chen said. 

Residence permits are designed solely to assist Taiwan residents living on the mainland, and do not require holders to give up their residency in Taiwan, and the rights and obligations that Taiwan residents enjoy in Taiwan island should not be affected, he said.

Since its introduction, the residence permit for Taiwan residents living in the Chinese mainland has been widely welcomed by Taiwan compatriots, significantly facilitating their studies, entrepreneurship, employment, and daily life, Chen added. 

Chen reaffirmed that authorities will strictly protect the personal information of permit holders, and urged Taiwan residents to use the service with confidence.

Global Times