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Two citizens of the People’s Republic of China were deported from Taiwan for violating entry conditions after disrupting an anti-China protest organized by Hong Kongers in the democratic island’s capital Taipei.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council identified the couple by their surname Yao, saying they had entered Taiwan under the pretense of visiting relatives. They were found to have no relatives currently in Taiwan, so their entry permits were revoked. They were deported on Thursday and boarded a flight to the mainland from Taoyuan International Airport.
Taiwan authorities condemned the misuse of the family visit channel and emphasized that Chinese visitors must not engage in activities that harm Taiwan's sovereignty or democracy.
On Tuesday, the couple were seen throwing banners with pro-Hong Kong independence slogans to the ground during a protest marking the 75th anniversary of China’s National Day, which commemorates communist party leader Mao Zedong’s formal establishment of the People’s Republic of China on Oct. 1, 1949.
In footage of the event recorded by RFA Cantonese, Mr. Yao shouted "Hong Kong is part of China, OK?" while a protester yelled back: "Taiwan belongs to the Taiwanese people, and Hong Kong belongs to the Hong Kong people."
Deportation of Chinese nationals who have traveled to Taiwan is relatively rare.
In January, during Taiwanese national elections, a former Chinese state TV journalist traveling on a tourist visa was ordered to leave Taiwan and banned for five years after an unauthorized appearance on a Taiwanese television talk show where he had mocked the physical disability of a ruling party legislator.
Edited by Eugene Whong.