Taiwan Delegates Detained in Kenya Amid China's Growing Influence

Taiwan's foreign minister, Lin Chia-Lung, stated on Wednesday that China's efforts to limit Taiwan's participation in international events have become "the new normal." The statement follows an incident where two Taiwanese delegates were detained in Kenya and denied access to the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa.

Key Details of the Incident

• The delegates' Taiwanese passports were not recognized by Kenyan authorities.
• Their passports and mobile phones were confiscated, and they were detained for over 20 hours before being allowed to leave Kenya.
• Following the detention, the rest of the Taiwanese delegation withdrew from the conference.

Official Statements

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry attributed the detention to Chinese pressure on the organizers.

Kenyan Foreign Ministry Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei stated that Kenya's foreign policy "recognizes only one China" and noted that individuals with Taiwanese passports lack proper documentation for entry.

Lin Chia-Lung criticized Kenya's actions as a "unilateral distortion and unwarranted expansion of their so-called 'One China' interpretation" and strongly condemned the detention.

Broader Context

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has not renounced the use of force to annex it. In recent months, Beijing has increased pressure on other countries to limit Taiwanese participation in international events.

• In April, Taiwan's president postponed a visit to Eswatini after three countries denied overflight permissions under Chinese pressure.
• China has long sought to limit Taiwan's representation in international bodies, including the World Health Organization and the Olympic Games, where Taiwan participates as "Chinese Taipei."