In a significant move, Taiwanese authorities have mandated that a Chinese influencer, known for her pro-Beijing stance, leave the island within a matter of days or face deportation. This decision follows her controversial social media posts advocating for China’s forced annexation of Taiwan, amidst escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Visa revocation and implications
The Taiwanese National Immigration Agency (NIA) has revoked the influencer’s visa, asserting that her actions promote the destruction of Taiwan’s sovereignty, which is intolerable in Taiwanese society. The individual, identified by her surname Liu, had moved from mainland China to Taiwan under a dependent visa after marrying a Taiwanese national.
According to local media reports, Liu has until March 24 to depart Taiwan, after which she will be subject to forced removal. Furthermore, the NIA stated that she would be ineligible to apply for another dependent visa for a period of five years. It is noteworthy that expelling Chinese spouses of Taiwanese citizens is a rare occurrence.
Controversial stance and public reaction
Liu, who is widely recognized on social media as Yaya, frequently shares videos that echo pro-Beijing sentiments alongside her young daughter. In her videos, she refers to Taiwan as “Taiwan province” and aligns with the narrative propagated by China, claiming it as an inseparable part of its territory. China asserts that Taiwan is part of its national territory, maintaining that the use of force remains a possibility.
“The complete unification of the motherland is a necessity, regardless of what the Taiwanese people want,” Liu stated in one video on Douyin, the Chinese counterpart to TikTok, where she boasts a following of 480,000.
She further remarked, “Peaceful unification is much harder than unification by force. It depends on what choices the Taiwanese people make.” As backlash against her content grew, Liu expressed her determination to continue her efforts, asserting in a February post that she “would never back down.”
In her defense, Liu claimed that she aimed to bridge the divide between the two sides, stating, “I’m just analysing objectively and sharing my own views.” However, her statements have drawn criticism from Taiwanese officials, including Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang, who emphasized that freedom of speech should not be misconstrued as a justification for inciting invasion.
The case of Liu sheds light on the increasing scrutiny placed upon the estimated 360,000 mainland Chinese spouses residing in Taiwan, especially in light of heightened cross-strait tensions. Recently, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te announced new measures aimed at curbing Chinese influence and infiltration, emphasizing the need for stricter oversight of cross-strait exchanges, which are perceived by China as mechanisms to “create internal divisions” within Taiwan.