Chinese-born social media influencer Yaya in Taiwan’s (亞亞在台灣) “reunification” comments contravened not only the law, but what is acceptable in Taiwan as free speech, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said today ahead of a plenary session at the Legislative Yuan.
The influencer’s comments, and any similar inflammatory and illegal online statements, would be dealt with under the full force of the law, she added.
The National Immigration Agency yesterday revoked the woman’s dependent-based residence permit after comments she made online about “unifying Taiwan using military force.”
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
The Chinese-born influencer, surnamed Liu (劉), is married to a Taiwanese national.
The agency said it received reports that Liu made the statements on her online account "Yaya in Taiwan,” which has nearly 400,000 followers on the Chinese social media platform Douyin.
Her comments made in a self-recorded video were reported under suspicion of promoting “united front” tactics and she was brought in for questioning by the agency.
It decided to revoke her permit according to the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) and Article 14 of the Measures for the Permission of Family-based Residence, Long-term Residence and Settlement of People from the Mainland Area in the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民在台灣地區依親居留長期居留或定居許可辦法).
Liu would be scheduled for deportation after a grace period granted to put her affairs in order, sources said, while the agency said she would not be allowed to reapply for a dependent-based residence permit for five years.
As all Taiwanese know, freedom of speech is not a god-given right, nor an excuse to promote ideas of unifying Taiwan by force or military intimidation of Taiwan, Liu Shyh-fang said today.
The Legislative Yuan is currently discussing a bill to shorten the waiting period for Chinese nationals with Taiwanese spouses to obtain Taiwanese citizenship from six years to four.
The bill is still under consideration and the Ministry of Interior has advised legislators to exercise caution due to the increased risk posed by geopolitical tensions and the current state of cross-strait relations, Liu Shyh-fang said.
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