A Taiwanese has been detained and interrogated in China on suspicion of spreading and developing the religion of I-Kuan Tao (一貫道), an official familiar with the issue said.
I-Kuan Tao has been developing in Taiwan for years and has attracted millions of followers internationally, including some Taiwanese businesspeople based in China, the source said.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) vigorously suppressed I-Kuan Tao in the early days of its rule, but later became more tolerant of its development in China and did not label it a cult like Falun Gong (法輪功), the source said.
Photo: Reuters
However, the Chinese government has begun to keep a close eye on the Taiwanese I-Kuan Tao organizations in China since the beginning of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) third term, they said.
Beijing continues to interrogate and find faults with Taiwanese traveling to China and repeatedly violates the personal safety of Taiwanese I-Kuan Tao followers, the source said.
The government received a report from a follower, who said that when entering China, they were detained and interrogated by the Chinese authorities for several days without warning, he said.
The follower was annoyed about being subjected to an investigation while they had done nothing illegal, he said.
It was unusual for Beijing to accuse Taiwanese travelers of spreading and developing I-Kuan Tao and to look into their past activities in China and their membership in Line groups on phones, the source said.
Taiwanese government information shows that Chinese officials have often accused Taiwanese religious figures of using secret religious societies, cult organizations and superstitions to undermine law enforcement, which carries severe penalties.
For example, a I-Kuan Tao follower was imprisoned by China for carrying dozens of scriptures. Another Taiwanese was suppressed by Chinese authorities for promoting Kuanyin Buddhism (觀音法門) in China.
Beijing used to be lenient with I-Kuan Tao activities, which were allowed as long as they were reported in advance and had no Chinese participators, he said.
The CCP is growing more wary of organized civil activities, he said.
The tightly knit organization and relatively secretive meetings of I-Kuan Tao is causing serious concerns for Chinese officials, who have ended up tightening controls considerably, he said.
Beijing maintains a bottom line for everything. In this case, no Chinese citizens can take part in I-Kuan Tao activities, the source said.
The bottom line now appears to be extreme, leading to complete bans on every matter of concern, he said, warning that Taiwanese religious figures should be careful when traveling to China.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
Speeding and badly maintained roads were the main causes of a school bus accident on a rainy day in Taipei last year that severely injured two people and left 22 with minor injuries, the Taiwan Transportation and Safety Board said. On March 11 last year, a Kang Chiao International School bus overturned inside the Wenshan Tunnel (文山隧道) on the northbound lane of the Xinyi Expressway. The tour bus, owned by Long Lai Co, exceeded the speed limit after entering the tunnel, the board’s investigation found. Sensing that the rear of the vehicle was swaying, the driver attempted to use the service and exhaust
RSS