Page 193 - 2023 OUTLINE OF THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR REPUBLIC OF CHINA

2023 OUTLINE OF THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR

during travel for big data analysis, so as to strengthen the grasp of passengers' name records and
overseas itinerary information (including third-place transfer information) through information tech-
nology, effectively filtering passengers with potential threats to border security. Through big data
analysis, various abnormal behaviors of passengers are analyzed, and preventive actions are devel-

oped accordingly to strengthen border security management. As of the end of 2022, the PNR had
interfaced with databases of eight airline companies, covering the information of 73 percent of pas-
sengers entering and leaving Taiwan.

7. Promoting the Online Application System
The NIA continues to promote the Online Application System, which allows migrant workers, for-

eigners (including mainland Chinese tourists from overseas, and Hong Kong and Macao short-term
visitors), foreign and overseas students, and mainland Chinese, Hong Kong, and Macao students
to apply online instead of applying in person. Apart from enabling online application submissions,
the system also simplifies the procedure for submitting required documents, and provides various

choices for online payments, substantially increasing administrative efficiency, and speeding up the
document issuance process. The online application platform for foreign professionals and their de-
pendents was launched on a trial basis on July 1, 2022, providing online Alien Resident Certificate
(ARC) application services for foreign professionals who have obtained employment permits from the

Ministry of Labor and their dependents.

8. Prevention of African swine fever

In order to prevent foreigners from illegally smuggling and selling pork products from African
swine fever-affected areas, the NIA conducted inspections on foreign population grocery shops and
restaurant vendors across the country. By the end of 2022, a total of 128 cases involving pork prod-

ucts of unknown origin, with a total of 1,252.728 kilograms, were seized. Among these, seven cases
tested positive for African swine fever, and nine cases were reported to the prosecutor for investiga-
tion. The NIA deported 296 foreign passengers who could not afford the penalty of illegally carrying
pork products in order to prevent African swine fever from entering the borders.

9. Policy objectives for 2023

Along with the release of border restrictions, the flow of business travelers and tourists has grad-
ually recovered from the impact of COVID-19. To facilitate and promote paperless immigration
clearance, the NIA will optimize the interface of online arrival cards. Multi-channel promotion will also

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