The new design of ROC passport with the enlarged English text for "Taiwan" on its cover can be applied from Jan. 11. Many citizens said even though their passorts are not close to reaching expiration date, they still want to apply for the new one. They also said the change can help ensure rights of Taiwan's citizens traveling abroad.
Many people came to apply for the new Taiwan passport in the early morning of Jan. 11. Some of their passports are not close to reaching expiration date but they came to apply anyway for the new design, which highlights the word "Taiwan" while retaining "Republic of China" in Chinese and in small English print around the national emblem.
It is still a while before my passport expires, but I would still like to apply for a new one since the word "Taiwan" is a lot clearer and it is better and easier for identification when going through immigration.
Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Joseph Wu also came to the Bureau of Consular Affairs to observe the process. He commented that while enlarging the name "Taiwan", other fundamental elements of the passport remain more or less the same. Worldwide countries have been notified of the change and there will be no problem traveling with the new passport. MOFA explained that they have been working hard on both the exposure of Taiwan internationally and improving US-Taiwan relations. Commenting on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent announcement to void long-standing restrictions that have been regulating US diplomats' and officials' interactions with Taiwan counterparts, Wu said it is because Taiwan has been a practical and responsible member in the international community.
We have been pushing for this lift for a long time. Mutual trust has improved since we have exercised very practical and responsible foreign policies.
US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft is expected to visit Taipei on Jan. 13 and will meet with President Tsai, Ing-wen and MOFA Minister Joseph Wu on the 14th. Craft will also give an open speech at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs during this trip. Wu gave some insight to Craft's speech topic.
She will be giving Taiwan some suggestions on how to improve our participation in international organizations. Her visit is very important to Taiwan right now since she is the first US ambassador to the UN visiting Taiwan. This is a good sign and we hope to continue improving US-Taiwan relations and make further progress.
Wu also said that US-Taiwan relations are now marching into the realm of a more official partnership, and China views Pompeo's decision as a "final show of madness" before transitioning to the Biden administration. Observation continues to see how the Biden administration handles the three-way relationship.
新版晶片護照，11號開始受理申辦，一大早就有不少民眾來排隊，還有人的護照還沒到期，還是要辦，就是衝著變大的TAIWAN而來。
民眾表示：「我的（護照）還沒有到（期），而且會比較容易辨識，省得麻煩。而且這樣對我們也比較好，通關也比較順利。」
外交部長吳釗燮也到領務局視察，他指出，這次新版護照，除了保留原來護照元素之外，也放大台灣，讓台灣辨識度更高，已經周知世界各國，新版護照在世界通行不會有問題。外交部要推動的，不只是台灣在國際的能見度，還有台美關係，對於美國務卿龐佩奧宣布取消美台交往限制，吳釗燮表示，因為台灣對外務實和負責。
外交部長 吳釗燮表示：「這個事情，我們已經推動了一陣子了，我們台灣能夠跟美國之間，互信不斷的提升，就是因為我們台灣是採取了，非常務實和負責的這個對外的政策。」
美國駐聯合國大使克拉芙特將於13號訪台，14號將晉見蔡英文總統，並與吳釗燮會談，還有一場在外交學院的公開演講，吳釗燮也透露了克拉芙特訪台主題。
外交部長 吳釗燮表示：「她來台灣訪問的主題，就是要跟我們台灣討論，如何來促進台灣在國際組織中的參與。這個對我們台灣來講，是一個非常重要事情，就是說，有現任的美國駐聯合國的大使來到台灣，這個是第一位。我們也希望台美關係，從這基礎之上，能夠更加往前推進。這個也是台美關係，非常良好的一個象徵。」
吳釗燮認為，台美關係已經進展到一個全球夥伴關係，不過，在美國總統川普政府政權交接前夕，積極釋出友台訊號，也讓中國緊盯，接下來的拜登政府如何接招，將牽動美中台三方的敏感神經。