【Epoch Times News on October 3, 2024】Taiwanese and Hong Kong people’s group in Taiwan held a speech in Taipei on the “National Mourning Day of the Eleven Countries” in China, and it was disrupted by a couple of Chinese mainland tourists named Yao who damaged the flags and made provocative remarks. The Immigration Department stated that they will strictly enforce the law and execute forced deportation of the two individuals.
On October 1st, the Taiwanese and Hong Kong people formed the “Eleventh Action Team” in Taipei’s Ximending MRT station square to give a street speech. They were disrupted by Chinese mainland tourists who claimed to be there for sightseeing, shouting phrases like “Hong Kong and Taiwan are part of China.” The “Eleventh Action Team” released a statement condemning the violent behavior of the mainland tourists during the incident, emphasizing their commitment to continue advocating for freedom and democracy.
The statement mentioned that this action was a voluntary initiative by Taiwanese and Hong Kong people in Taiwan, with assistance from Hong Kong Border Youth to lawfully apply for the right to use the road, expressing support for the democratic movement in Hong Kong in a peaceful and rational manner. The Taiwanese and Hong Kong people set up flags saying “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times” in the street outside Ximending MRT station, in compliance with current Taiwanese laws, as a legal and peaceful means of expression in a democratic and free society, with no intention to provoke any form of conflict.
During the incident, the Chinese tourists pulled down the flag without reason and threw it on the ground, then proceeded to provoke them. Members immediately confronted them and tried to remain calm; there were also Taiwanese people who came forward to support them, but the mainland tourists continued to verbally attack and provoke them. The police nearby intervened promptly, proactively stopping the mainland tourists and preventing further conflict. Subsequently, the police followed up and initiated an investigation.
The Taiwan Immigration Department of the Ministry of the Interior issued a press release today (3rd), stating, “Two Chinese mainland individuals caused disturbances during the Hong Kong people’s event at Ximending in Taipei on October 1st, resulting in a conflict. The Taipei City police assisted our department in apprehending them, and they admitted that when they entered at the end of September, they were already aware that the person they claimed to visit had returned to the mainland in July, which clearly did not comply with the reason for their application to enter Taiwan.”
The Taiwan Immigration Department is enhancing the management of foreign visitors and deterring individuals with malicious intent from engaging in activities not in line with approved purposes in Taiwan. In accordance with the Regulations Governing the Entry of People from the Mainland Areas of China into Taiwan, the permits for the husband and wife Yao were revoked and their entry and exit permits were invalidated, and they were forcibly deported today.
The Taiwan Immigration Department stated, “Regarding applications from people from mainland China to enter Taiwan, there are clear regulations that require reasons for entry matching the stated purpose, and during the stay in Taiwan, there should be no actions that harm our country’s dignity or diminish Taiwan’s status. The department emphasizes that it will continue to strengthen the management of foreign visitors and flows of people, review relevant applications in accordance with the law, and uphold a strict law enforcement stance to ensure healthy and orderly cross-strait exchanges.”
The Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China (Taiwan) stated that according to the Cross-Strait regulations, individuals from mainland China entering Taiwan with permission are not allowed to engage in activities not in line with their approved purpose. The Yao couple violated the principle of equal dignity after entering by engaging in inappropriate behavior and having no legitimate reason for their initial application, resulting in the revocation of their entry permit and the invalidation of their entry and exit permits according to the Regulations on People from the Mainland Areas of China Entering Taiwan.
The Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan emphasized, “Mainland individuals entering Taiwan are not allowed to make statements detrimental to Taiwan’s independent status or engage in actions that violate the principle of equal dignity. If mainland Chinese individuals coming to Taiwan engage in actions that endanger our national security and social stability or undermine national sovereignty and equal dignity, the government will immediately and strictly deal with these violations in accordance with the law, and will not tolerate such individuals entering Taiwan; while Taiwanese are hospitable, we do not welcome disrespectful visitors.”
The Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan further pointed out, “After investigation, it was found that the two mainland individuals applied to come to Taiwan to visit family, but upon arrival at the end of September, it was known that the family members they intended to visit had already returned to the mainland in July, indicating that the applicants were aware they did not meet the reasons for entry to Taiwan and did not reside at the registered address at the time of application. These two mainland individuals repeatedly abused our goodwill of allowing families from both sides to reunite based on humanitarian grounds,” and the government strongly condemns their actions and will rigorously review any future applications from them.
The Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan reiterated, “The government welcomes healthy and orderly exchanges between the two sides, but such exchanges must align with our policy stance, adhere to the principles of equal dignity, and comply with legal regulations. The competent authorities will promptly prosecute violations according to relevant regulations, and the government will continue to strengthen the security management of mainland Chinese visitors to Taiwan to uphold our national security and social stability.”