Taiwan is vetting more than 747,000 civil servants, educators and military personnel for mainland ID and residency documents in a crackdown on Beijing’s growing political influence and espionage activities on the island.
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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 investigation was ordered in response to a directive from Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te during a national security meeting in March.
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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.