A group of Chinese students from Macau who took a photograph with the People's Republic of China flag violated purposes stated for tourism entry, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said today.
The students have been warned by relevant authorities and any future applications to visit Taiwan would be carefully reviewed, MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said in a radio interview.
The council is aware of their identities, Chiu said, adding that they are mainland Chinese students currently studying in Macau.
Photo: Liao Chen-hui, Taipei Times
Tourists from all over the world are welcome to visit Taiwan and attend events, but incidents like this should not happen, Chiu added.
The authorities have made a note of the incident as well, he added.
Chiu also spoke on recent cases of people from China attempting to enter Taiwan by boat.
The situation calls for special attention, Chiu said.
There are various reasons why people may try to enter illegally, such as spying on Taiwan’s defenses, looking for human trafficking loopholes or even influencers seeking viral fame, he said.
Those seeking freedom cannot be ruled out, although the number is decreasing, Chiu said.
Asked whether these people were sent by the Chinese Communist Party, Chiu said he “could not rule that out.”
The relevant authorities would look into each case individually, he said, adding that coming to Taiwan by dinghy is illegal and would definitely face legal consequences.
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