Responding to an appeal for help by exiled Chinese democracy activist Wang Dan (王丹), the Ministry of the Interior yesterday said it would help to facilitate his return to Taiwan, and would discuss his case in a meeting today.
“Wang was invited by National Tsing Hua University to conduct academic research in Taiwan, and was issued a multiple-entry Exit and Entry Permit for the Taiwan Area of the Republic of China valid for a year, which expires on Oct. 6 this year,” the ministry said in a press release.
“However, since Wang is also required to have a re-entry permit issued by the US to enter Taiwan, we would express our concerns about the renewal process of his re-entry permit through diplomatic channels, based on humanitarian concerns for his health,” the ministry said.
According to the Regulations Governing the Entry Permission to Taiwan Area for the People from Mainland China (大陸大區人民進入台灣地區許可辦法), Wang, as a national of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) traveling from a third country, should enter Taiwan with not only an exit and entry permit, but also documents showing that he is allowed to re-enter the country that he is traveling from, the ministry said.
The ministry said that because Wang does not have a valid PRC passport or a document for traveling to Taiwan issued by the Chinese government, but does possess a US green card, “he should attach his re-entry permit issued by the US government — for which his application is still pending — as a travel document.”
The ministry said it would discuss Wang’s case in a joint review committee meeting about Chinese nationals wishing to travel to Taiwan scheduled to take place today to see if he could be granted special consideration.
Wang has been in the US for more than a month on a visit.
He said he has been suffering from sudden dizziness in the past two months and suspects that he may have brain tumor or blood clot.
Since he does not have medical insurance in the US and so medical expenses there would not be affordable, he is hoping to return to Taiwan as soon as possible for a medical checkup because he has National Health Insurance coverage.
Wang’s appeal for assistance on Facebook has triggered both positive and negative remarks, with his supporters calling on the government for assistance, while others criticized him for asking for special privileges.
Wang has said those who have criticized him are supporters or employees of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) or the Chinese Communist Party.
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