I would like to know what Taiwanese have to do if they enter Mainland China for work? Many Taiwanese are now on the Mainland doing this. Taiwan people have to go to Hong Kong to enter the Mainland, no other link exists.
The People’s Republic of China has maintained for years that Taiwan is part of their country, a “renagade province” in their nomenclature. They call this the “One China Principle” Taiwan on the other hand, thinks of themselves as a country, but is afraid to proclaim independance due to China.
So when Taiwanese come to China, what happens at immigration? The Chinese authorities have to consider the Taiwanese citizens, or it violates “One China”. But the Chinese need to be wary of possible spies and enemies of their state, so the Taiwanese would have to go through a process screening once they enter China. So, what happens?
My co-worker is from Taiwan and I asked her about this.
This isn’t quite true. If they want to go directly from Taiwan to China they must go through Hong Kong but they could go to Japan (or any country other than Taiwan) first and then go to any airport in China from there.
Co-worker says it’s a relatively easy process to live and work as a Taiwanese in China. You just get a work permit. You’re not treated as a citizen. Even if you’re just visiting China you’re considered a foreigner in the airport lines. On the other hand, it’s very difficult for a mainland Chinese to live and work in Taiwan. She says it’s extremely difficult even if one is married to a Taiwanese. I think Taiwan has much more to fear from China than vice-versa.
corndog: Part of your premise is also mistaken. Not all those on Taiwan consider Taiwan to be a separate country. Those consider the Republic of China government to be the legitimate government of China.
Actually, there are some very limited direct links from Matsu Island to Xiamen.
Taiwanese coming to China generally use their taiwan passports, apply for a visa, and enter the country in the same manner as any other foreign national. Taiwanese can also enter China less commonly now on the “huixiangzheng”, which is a Mainland issued travel document for overseas Chinese. This came into being because up through the mid 80’s, Taiwanese that had visited China and returned to Taiwan and were caught at visiting China, had their passports revoked by the Taiwan government. The “huixiangzheng” was a way to avoid having a Mainland stamp put in the passport. Taiwan started allowing travel to the Mainland sometime in the mid-8o’s. IIRC 1987.
There are estimates in both Taiwan and China, that there are between 500k and 2 million Taiwanese in China at any given time. Quite a number since Taiwan has a population of about 20 million.