Rising Threat to Taiwanese Citizens in China: 458 Reported Missing or Detained
A report reveals that 458 Taiwanese citizens are currently missing or detained in China, raising concerns about religious persecution.
Taipei, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : According to Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), there are currently 458 Taiwanese citizens who are either missing, detained, or facing restrictions on their movement in China. This alarming figure includes followers of I-Kuan Tao, one of Taiwan’s most significant religious traditions, which has long been viewed with suspicion by Chinese authorities.
A report from Bitter Winter highlights that of these individuals, 175 are reported missing, 41 have been detained for questioning, and 242 remain in the custody of Chinese officials. Luo Wen-jia, Secretary-General of the Straits Exchange Foundation, noted that recent detentions between April and July involved Taiwanese followers of I-Kuan Tao, including teachers, businesspeople, and retirees who had been living in Fujian, Guangdong, and Shenzhen.
The common thread among those targeted by Chinese authorities is not their alleged affiliation with an “illegal organization,” but rather their religious identity. Luo expressed that these arrests appear to be motivated by religious reasons. Previously, such incidents typically involved Taiwanese pilgrims on short visits to China. He urged I-Kuan Tao followers to return to Taiwan and called for a “red alert” travel advisory for them.
The report indicates that these arrests of Taiwanese citizens are not isolated incidents. Instead, they reflect the expansion of China’s domestic religious policies beyond its borders. When the Chinese Communist Party deems an individual’s beliefs ideologically unacceptable, even a Taiwanese passport offers no protection.
The increasing numbers reported by MAC, along with warnings from the Straits Exchange Foundation and ongoing legal actions under Article 300, suggest that the situation is becoming increasingly severe. In this environment, religious identity can become a cause for suspicion.
The report emphasizes that the risks faced by I-Kuan Tao followers are real, documented, and persistent. It asserts that the repressive policies under President Xi Jinping’s leadership are impacting individuals beyond China’s borders.
