A Japanese national was deported this morning and has been barred from entering Taiwan along with his accomplice, after posting a video on Chinese social media holding the Chinese flag in Taipei and saying pro-China slogans, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) said today.
In the video, the two Japanese men stand on the rainbow crosswalk in Taipei’s Ximending (西門町) area holding a large Chinese flag and saying pro-Chinese slogans such as “Taiwan belongs to China” in Japanese and Chinese.
The NIA said that it immediately launched an investigation and identified the men, finding that a man called “T” had already left the country, while the other, known to authorities as “S,” remained in Taiwan.
Photo: Screen grab from a video posted by Threads user @gawain0512
A task force yesterday found the 42-year-old “S” at his hotel, who admitted to making the comments on film, the agency said.
They informed him of his rights before deporting him this morning for “endangered national security or social stability,” the agency said in a news release.
"T" entered Taiwan earlier this month and departed the same day the pair concluded filming, it said.
Both men, who used the visa-free entry scheme to enter Taiwan, have now been barred from entering the country, the NIA said.
Their actions were found to contravene Article 13-1 of the Immigration Act (入出國及移民法), which states that the NIA can revoke permits of those without household registration if their actions are found to “endanger national security or social stability,” the NIA said.
The two men — a Japanese influencer known as Aira, and an online Japanese teacher known as Tanaka-kun — admitted their motivation behind making the video was to elevate their online profiles and increase followers from China.
Their profiles on Chinese social media platform Bilibili show a series of videos claiming their “love for China,” speaking in Chinese and interacting with Chinese influencers.
In the video filmed in Taipei, the man introducing himself as Tanaka-kun says: “Today we are in Taiwan, China, in Ximending.”
The second man then introduces himself using his online persona Aila (艾拉), saying in both Chinese and Japanese: “We are Japanese, and we love China.”
“We hope that relations between Japan and China will continue to flourish,” he adds.
Tanaka-kun then finishes the video by saying: “Of course Taiwan belongs to China. Thank you,” as the second man adds: “Thank you for your support.”
As of writing, the video collaboration, posted on Aira’s account, has already amassed more than 70,000 views and 9,000 likes on Bilibili since it was posted on Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, a copy of the video posted on social media platform Threads has received nearly 900 likes and 600 comments, with many users questioning why nobody intervened to stop the demonstration.
One commenter said they reported the video to the authorities and claimed that the two men had Chinese or Taiwanese family members.
Any foreign national in Taiwan deemed to endanger national security, public safety or social order would be dealt with according to the law, the NIA said, adding that it would continue working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure national safety and stability.
Three Chinese-born spouses of Taiwanese nationals — “Yaya in Taiwan” (亞亞在台灣), Xiaowei (小微) and Enqi (恩綺) — were also deported or asked to leave Taiwan by the NIA earlier this year, in a series of high-profile cases related to pro-China videos posted by the influencers on Chinese social media.
Additional reporting by CNA
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS