A Chinese couple who illegally entered Taiwan from mainland China and disrupted a pro-democracy event in Taipei have been deported, as reported by The Independent. The Taiwanese government announced on Thursday that the visas of the Chinese couple had been revoked due to their disruptive behaviour during a protest organized by Hong Kong exiles on China’s National Day.
The Hong Kong Outlanders group stated that the protesters were verbally harassed and physically pushed by a group of Chinese individuals in Taipei’s Ximending district. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, responsible for cross-strait affairs, condemned the couple’s actions as a violation of the principle of reciprocal dignity.
According to the National Immigration Agency (NIA) of Taiwan, the Chinese couple had breached the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into Taiwan Area. Despite applying for temporary entry permits to visit family members in Taiwan, the NIA discovered that the family they intended to visit had already returned to China in July.
The protest took place on China’s National Day, during which China celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Communist Party. Chinese President Xi Jinping had reaffirmed the commitment to “reunification” with Taiwan on the eve of the national day. China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, despite not having governed it, and has expressed intentions to unify it with the mainland, even if by force.
As crackdowns on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong intensified, Taiwan has increasingly become a sanctuary for many Hong Kong residents seeking political refuge since the unrest in 2019. Videos shared on Facebook by the Hong Kong Outlanders captured a man attempting to remove a flag bearing the popular protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times.” The man declared in Mandarin that he would not tolerate such a flag on China’s National Day, asserting that Taiwan and Hong Kong are integral parts of China.
Police intervened to de-escalate the situation and removed the man as tensions rose during the event. The Mainland Affairs Council expressed disapproval of the actions of the Chinese couple, highlighting the government’s commitment to safeguarding national security and social stability by addressing illegal behaviour that threatens Taiwan’s integrity. The incident underscores the complexities surrounding cross-strait relations and the heightened sensitivity of pro-democracy sentiments within the region.