Seoul to remove ‘China (Taiwan)’ label from e-arrival system after Taipei’s protest

A Taiwan national flag flutters near the Taipei 101 building at the National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall in Taipei on May 7, 2023. [AP/YONHAP]

 
Korea plans to remove the “China (Taiwan)” label from its electronic arrival registration system after Taiwan protested by changing Korea’s designation in its own immigration system from “Korea” to “Korea (South),” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.
 
Rather than relabeling Taiwan, Seoul is set to eliminate the “last point of departure” and “next destination” fields from its e-Arrival Card system — a digital entry declaration for foreign travelers — where Taiwan had been listed as “China (Taiwan).” It will remain listed as Taiwan in the country and region field.
 
A ministry official said the paper arrival cards already do not include those fields, and that the move is part of efforts to streamline the system, improve convenience for visitors from Taiwan and align the paper and electronic arrival formats.
 
The Ministry of Justice is handling the matter in line with relevant procedures, the official said. 
 
Seoul’s decision came after Taiwan called for a correction to its labeling as “China (Taiwan)” in the system, saying it has changed Korea’s name in its immigration system from “Korea” to “Korea (South)” as a reciprocal measure.
 
Taipei warned that it would take further corresponding steps if it sees no positive action from Seoul by Tuesday.
 
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said the same day that it had learned Seoul was under an “internal administrative and technical review” to update its e-arrival card system. It said Taiwan will temporarily suspend its own change to the e-entry registration and is expected to take reciprocal steps to restore “Korea” in its foreign residency documents.
 
The move is interpreted as aiming to eliminate the controversy by revising the form itself, and as a compromise that takes into account both Seoul’s official stance of respecting Beijing’s “One China” policy and its diplomatic ties with Taipei.  
 
Seoul noted that the decision was not made in response to Taipei’s stated March 31 deadline for possible additional measures over the labeling, but was intended to address the issue in a way that promotes practical, unofficial cooperation with Taiwan.
 
Korea severed official diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1992, when it established formal relations with mainland China. Since then, the two sides have maintained practical ties unofficially.
 
China considers Taiwan, self-governed since it broke away from the mainland in 1949, as part of its territory that must be reunified by force if necessary, and it has strongly objected to any country that challenges this stance.
 
“We maintain necessary communication with China on matters of mutual interest,” the Seoul official added.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE,YONHAP [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]