[Cross-Strait] China Obstructs Taiwan's Participation in OOC; Mainland Affairs Council Issues Stern Protest and Condemnation

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) today (16th) expressed its stern protest and condemnation against the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) pressure on the Kenyan government to obstruct Taiwan's participation in this year's "11th Our Ocean Conference" (OOC 11), and for even restricting the personal and communication freedom of Taiwanese scholars. In a press release, the MAC pointed out that Taiwan has long actively participated in global ocean affairs exchanges and cooperation, and has continuously participated in the "Our Ocean Conference" (OOC) since 2015, receiving widespread affirmation from the international community. The Beijing authorities continue to restrict Taiwan's international participation space through diplomatic suppression and other means. Now, they have extended their political influence into international ocean cooperation and academic exchange, excluding Taiwan's participation, and even detaining Taiwanese scholars for over 20 hours. This once again exposes their hegemonic mentality of prioritizing politics over professionalism and interfering in international affairs with authoritarianism. The MAC emphasized that the Republic of China (Taiwan) has the right to participate in the international community. The CCP's repeated use of its "One China Principle" to pressure various countries into obstructing Taiwan's participation in international affairs will not change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait where the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People's Republic of China do not subordinate to each other, nor the objective fact that Taiwan has never been a part of the People's Republic of China. It will not shake Taiwan's firm determination to participate in international affairs, and the people of Taiwan will never back down or yield due to the CCP's intimidation and threats. The MAC stated that Taiwan will continue to cooperate with allied nations to contribute to international ocean affairs cooperation and sustainable development. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issued a press release this afternoon stating that Taiwanese scholars were invited by the host country of this year's "11th Our Ocean Conference," the Kenyan government, to travel to Mombasa on the 14th to attend the pre-conference academic exchange meeting and present their research reports. Upon arriving at the venue for registration, they were denied entry passes by the organizers on the grounds of not recognizing Taiwanese passports. The Kenyan immigration authorities forcibly intervened. Despite strenuous negotiations by the Taiwanese side, their passports and mobile phones were confiscated, and they were detained for over 20 hours before being allowed to depart by plane. The MOFA severely condemns China's actions in suppressing Taiwan's international participation, which are akin to gangster-like behavior. It demands that China cease its barbaric actions that harm global ocean affairs cooperation and calls on allied nations to pay attention and jointly curb China's escalating bullying diplomacy. The MOFA stated that Kenya, as the host country of OOC, has willingly become a political pawn for China, openly violating the principles of inclusivity and cooperation espoused by OOC. The MOFA expresses its strong protest against this. (Editor: Shen Zhen-jiang)