The government stands firm in maintaining its decision to deport Chinese-born influencer “Yaya in Taiwan” (亞亞在台灣), Premier Cho Jung-tai (長卓榮) said today, after Yaya yesterday said she would not leave the country by today’s deadline.
Any illegal actions that contravene national security would be strictly handled, with no room for compromise, Cho said in an interview before a meeting at the Legislative Yuan.
The case is being handled by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) in accordance with 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), he said.
Photo: Chen I-kuan, Taipei Times
The MOI has been instructed to adopt a gentle yet resolute approach, to prove to the public that protecting Taiwan’s sovereignty is of the utmost concern, he added.
There are limits on freedom of speech as it cannot compromise Taiwan’s integrity and continued survival, Cho said, citing legal experts.
Residents cannot make remarks that denounce Taiwan and still expect to be afforded protection, he said.
Democratic countries have set similar precedents, placing limits on free speech in the interest of national security and public interest, as has been ruled by the US Supreme Court, he added.
Yaya said yesterday in an interview with TＶＢＳ that she has “no intention” to leave and had not booked a flight ticket.
The social media influencer, real name Liu Zhenya (劉振亞), had her dependent-based residency permit revoked earlier this month after comments she made online about “unifying Taiwan using military force.”
Yaya’s account has nearly 400,000 followers on the Chinese social media platform Douyin.
The National Immigration Agency (NIA) called her in for questioning on March 4 regarding “reunification” comments, and on March 12 revoked her residency permit.
The NIA planned to schedule her deportation within ten days, following a grace period granted to put her affairs in order.
Yaya, the spouse of a Taiwanese national, would not be allowed to reapply for a dependent-based residence permit for five years, it said.
She has no intention of leaving Taiwan because she believes she has done nothing wrong, and the false accusation is an attack on her character, she said yesterday.
Her departure would only prove that she had accepted this “unjust coercion,” she added.
Liu intends to file a countersuit, stating that she personally believes in the peaceful reunification of China and Taiwan and did not intend to promote the use of military force, she said.
Her video instead explained the possible risks of annexing Taiwan by force, she added.
Yaya is concerned for the well-being of her three children, she said, “If I leave [Taiwan], my children would not only lose their mother but face unnecessary harm.”
China has stated its support for Yaya’s refusal to leave Taiwan.
Additional reporting by CNA.
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