China Taiwan

The island remained a significant transit point and, to a lesser extent, a destination for trafficked persons. There were reports of organized crime rings trafficking in a small number of women for the purpose of prostitution. The majority of cases involved women from mainland China, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Criminal gangs in mainland China reportedly used deceptive measures to recruit and procure young women who were then trafficked to Taiwan-based organized crime gangs who arranged sham marriages to enable them to obtain visas to enter Taiwan and exploited them for purposes of prostitution. Many of the victims were aware that they were to work as prostitutes, but were deceived by the traffickers about what their pay and working and living conditions would be upon arrival. Once in Taiwan, they were kept isolated, their passports were held, and they were threatened with violence if they did not cooperate. Small numbers of young Malaysian women, primarily ethnic Chines ... [Read More]

China (Taiwan only)

All travelers from the mainland are required to have invitations from sponsors and are subject to approval by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC). Regulations governing visits by mainland tourists, which took effect in 2003 state that mainland tourists are not allowed to change their itineraries after arriving in Taiwan, must travel in a group, stay at designated hotels, and return to their hotel rooms by 10 p.m. In addition, travel agencies responsible for arranging the visits are required to deposit a guarantee of $29,000 (NT $1 million), which is confiscated if any of the tourists are involved in any legal problems or are reported missing. There are also restrictions on mainland visitors who come to Taiwan for family and business purposes. They are required to report their location to the police on a regular basis and cannot seek employment in Taiwan. The authorities permit People's Republic of China (PRC) correspondents to be posted to the island for up to 1 month ... [Read More]

Taiwan - US Department of State
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The United States and China - US Department of State
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China (03/05)

In the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations dated January 1, 1979, the United States transferred diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The U.S. reiterated the Shanghai Communiqué's acknowledgment of the Chinese position that there is only one China and that Taiwan is a part of China; Beijing acknowledged that the American people would continue to carry on commercial, cultural, and other unofficial contacts with the people of Taiwan. The Taiwan Relations Act made the necessary changes in U.S. domestic law to permit such unofficial relations with Taiwan to flourish. ... [Read More]

International Religious Freedom Report 2002: China (includes Taiwan only)

Relations among the various religious communities are generally amicable. The Taiwan Council for Religion and Peace, the China Religious Believers Association, and the Taiwan Religious Association are private organizations that promote greater understanding and tolerance among adherents of different religions. These associations and various religious groups occasionally sponsor symposiums to promote mutual understanding. ...

The American Institute in Taiwan discusses religious freedom issues with the authorities in the context of its overall dialog and policy of promoting human rights. ... [Read More]

Security - US Department of State
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The United States and China Archive - US Department of State
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Taiwan (07/05)

Taiwan is the world's largest supplier of computer monitors and is a leading PC manufacturer. Textile production, though of declining importance as Taiwan loses its competitive advantage in labor-intensive markets, is another major industrial export sector. Imports are dominated by raw materials and capital goods, which account for more than 90% of the total. Taiwan imports coal, oil and gas to meet most of its energy needs. Reflecting the large Taiwan investment in the mainland, in 2003 China supplanted the United States as Taiwan’s largest trade partner. In 2004, China (including Hong Kong) accounted for over 23% of Taiwan’s total trade and almost 37% of Taiwan’s exports. Japan was Taiwan’s second largest trading partner with 15% of total trade, including 26% of Taiwan’s imports. The U.S. is now Taiwan’s third-largest trade partner, taking 16% of Taiwan’s exports and supplying 13% of its imports. Taiwan is the United States' eighth-largest trading partner; Taiwan's two-way trade with ... [Read More]

Taiwan Relations Act - US Department of State

SEC. 10. (a) Whenever the President or any agency of the United States Government is authorized or required by or pursuant to the laws of the United States to render or provide to or to receive or accept from Taiwan, any performance, communication, assurance, undertaking, or other action, such action shall, in the manner and to the. extent directed by the President, be rendered or Provided to, or received or accepted from, an instrumentality established by Taiwan which the President determines has the necessary authority under the laws applied by the people on Taiwan to provide assurances and take other actions on behalf of Taiwan in accordance with this Act. ... [Read More]