Taiwan protests Kenya's blocking of delegates at oceans forum, citing Chinese pressure

Taiwan has lodged a strong protest against Kenya, accusing the East African nation of succumbing to Chinese pressure by blocking its officials from attending the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa.

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We see this is a new normal. China is pressuring other countries more and more to behave towards Taiwan in a way that exceeds the past.

Kuan Bi-ling, Taiwan's Minister of Ocean Affairs Council, reported that Kenyan authorities detained two delegates, confiscated their passports and phones, and subjected them to a situation close to deportation. Entry permits for other officials were also revoked.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung asserted that Kenya acted under "high-level Chinese pressure," distorting the One China principle to an "unlimited" extent to prevent Taiwan's participation. "This is absolutely wrong and we strongly protest it," Lin stated, describing the situation as a "new normal" in China's growing international pressure on Taiwan.

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This is absolutely wrong and we strongly protest it.

Taiwan had been officially invited to the forum and had prepared a booth. The incident underscores China's ongoing campaign to isolate Taiwan diplomatically and militarily, while also attempting to sway Taiwan's few remaining formal diplomatic allies.

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This is not diplomatic coldness, it is unfair treatment