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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

Taiwan scholar detained in Kenya, minister blames China

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A Taiwanese scholar attending the "Our Ocean Conference" in Kenya was detained at the airport for over 20 hours, with her passport and phone confiscated.
  • The scholar was reportedly told she had a passport issue and faced a situation akin to deportation before being allowed to return to Taiwan.
  • Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council Minister suspects China's pressure led to the incident, calling Kenya's actions "crude."

A Taiwanese scholar, invited to the 11th "Our Ocean Conference" in Kenya, was detained at the airport for more than 20 hours, her passport and phone confiscated. The scholar, who was part of an 8-person delegation, was reportedly denied entry due to passport issues and faced a situation resembling deportation.

China's version has no heart!

— Taiwanese scholarThe Taiwanese scholar distinguished between simplified and traditional Chinese characters for airport staff, noting the difference in the character for 'love'.

She was held in a room with bars before eventually being allowed to return to Taiwan. During her detention, she reportedly used her phone to capture images of the holding room and engaged in "alternative" public diplomacy by teaching airport staff how to distinguish between simplified and traditional Chinese characters, noting that the Chinese version of 'love' lacks a 'heart'.

The only possible reason is China's consistent suppression, which could lead to such a result.

— Kuan Bi-lingTaiwan's Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling suspected China's influence behind the detention of the Taiwanese scholar in Kenya.

Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling condemned Kenya's actions as "crude" and "top-down decision-making," suspecting that China's consistent pressure was the sole reason for the incident. The scholar returned to Taiwan safely, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs official also departed Kenya.

You haven't violated any rules, it's just that we can't.

— Airport guardThe guard apologized to the detained Taiwanese scholar, indicating the detention was due to external directives.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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