Taiwan cracks down on public servants with mainland ID and residency
Hundreds of thousands of government and military personnel screened in programme dismissed by critics as ‘loyalty pledges’
More than 370,000 personnel in sensitive and high-ranking posts were screened in the first phase of the wide-reaching investigation led by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).
A second phase, launched on Monday, “will include local government officials and public-school teachers at all levels”, deputy interior minister Ma Shih-yuan said.
According to government data, Taiwan has 236,597 civil servants, 212,915 public-school teachers and administrators, and about 215,000 active-duty military personnel.
The MAC – which charts cross-strait policy – has told various agencies, including the defence, interior, education and civil service ministries, to conduct comprehensive checks on personnel, especially those with access to sensitive information or influence.