Richard Sanders, Staff Writer
A Taiwanese security official has cautioned citizens that they could be extradited to China if they do not repay loans obtained in China with a Chinese ID card, according to a report by Taipei Times on Thursday.
This alert follows the release of a YouTube video by Taiwanese rapper Chen Po-yuan and YouTuber “Pa Chiung,” which discusses China’s “united front” strategies.
In the video, Lin Jincheng, who leads the Taiwan Youth Entrepreneurship Park in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, mentioned that Taiwanese individuals could acquire a Chinese ID card, establish a company in China, and engage in cross-border e-commerce. With a Chinese ID, they could buy property and vehicles in China without a down payment, using these assets as collateral for bank loans, despite Lin being wanted for fraud in Taiwan.
The video also revealed a troubling trend where some Taiwanese entrepreneurs overborrow from Chinese banks, splitting the funds with intermediaries and Chinese officials before sending the remainder back to Taiwan.
An unnamed Taiwanese official warned that individuals would not be able to evade consequences, even if they did not plan to return to China. He remarked, “You may think a Chinese ID card offers a fresh start, but it could lead to dire consequences.”
Additionally, some university professors, seeking rewards, are organizing “exchange” tours to China, encouraging students to participate for convenience, as payments in China require scanning a QR code.
Intermediaries claim they can assist with purchasing properties and vehicles, securing bank loans, and registering businesses, suggesting that repayment of loans would not be an issue as long as the applicants do not return to China. The official cautioned that personal information could be exploited for fraudulent activities.
