Date: August 8, 2016
MAC Press Release No. 52
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated that it was informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that mainland China intends to detain and deport to the Mainland five Taiwan nationals acquitted by the Kenyan court. The MAC immediately conveyed Taiwan's position to the Mainland side through cross-Strait communication channels. It also demanded that the Mainland actively coordinate the relevant departments to arrange the handover of the Taiwan personnel involved in this case to the Taiwan side to be returned to Taiwan and dealt with according to law and not be detained in mainland China.
It was confirmed today (August 8, 2016) that five Taiwan nationals were detained and deported to mainland China in disregard of the Kenyan court's acquittal and determination that the persons involved should be deported to Taiwan. This action shows contempt for human rights. Once again, the MAC immediately expressed deep regret and solemnly protested to the Mainland. The Mainland's move ignores the long-term tacit understanding established between the cross-Strait authorities over the years and disregards the repeated public calls by Taiwan demanding that Taiwan personnel not be deported to mainland China. It also seriously hurts the feelings of Taiwanese. The MAC demanded that, after the five nationals are detained and brought to mainland China, the Mainland immediately make notification of personal subject to security restrictions in accordance with the Cross-Strait Agreement on Joint Crime-Fighting and Judicial Mutual Assistance.
The MAC stated that the government will continue to communicate with the Mainland to seek to return of deported Taiwan nationals to Taiwan for judicial investigation. The MAC also called again for the two sides to continue to move forward, advance in the same direction, and on the cumulative basis of past communication and cooperation on such cases, continue benign communication and dialogue and jointly devise a way to effectively combat cross-border telecommunications fraud and strengthen protection of the interests and well-being of the people on both sides.