China Blocks Taiwan's Participation in OOC, MAC Issues Strong Protest and Condemnation

(CNA, Taipei, 16th) The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) today expressed strong protest and condemnation against China's pressure on the Kenyan government to obstruct Taiwan's participation in the 11th 'Our Ocean Conference' (OOC 11), as well as the restriction of personal and communication freedoms of Taiwanese scholars.

In a press release, the MAC pointed out that Taiwan has long actively participated in global ocean affairs, continuously attending the 'Our Ocean Conference' (OOC) since 2015 and earning wide international recognition. The Beijing authorities continue to restrict Taiwan's international space through diplomatic pressure, and now have extended their political interference into international ocean cooperation and academic exchanges, excluding Taiwan's participation. The detention of Taiwanese scholars for over 20 hours once again exposes China's hegemonic mindset of prioritizing politics over professionalism and authoritarian interference in international affairs.

The MAC emphasized that the Republic of China has the right to participate in the international community. China's repeated use of the 'One China Principle' to pressure other countries and block Taiwan's international participation will not change the current reality that the ROC and the PRC are not subordinate to each other, nor the objective fact that Taiwan has never been part of the People's Republic of China. It will not shake Taiwan's firm determination to participate in international affairs, and the people of Taiwan will never retreat or surrender due to China's threats and intimidation.

The MAC stated that Taiwan will continue to cooperate with allied nations to contribute to international ocean cooperation and sustainable development.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issued a press release this afternoon, stating that Taiwanese scholars, invited by the Kenyan government—the host of the 11th 'Our Ocean Conference'—arrived in Mombasa on the 14th to attend a pre-conference academic exchange and deliver professional research presentations. Upon attempting to register at the venue, they were denied entry badges by the organizers on the grounds that Taiwan passports were not recognized. The Kenyan immigration authorities forcibly intervened, and despite Taiwan's strenuous efforts to negotiate, the scholars' passports and mobile phones were confiscated and they were detained for over 20 hours before being allowed to depart by flight.

MOFA strongly condemned China's actions, describing its suppression of Taiwan's international participation as akin to thuggish interference. It demanded that China immediately cease its barbaric behavior that undermines global ocean cooperation and called on allied nations to take this seriously and jointly resist China's escalating bullying diplomacy.

MOFA stated that Kenya, as the host of OOC, has willingly become a political pawn of China, openly violating the principles of inclusivity and cooperation championed by OOC. MOFA expressed strong protest against this. (Editors: Chen Kai-yu / Chen Cheng-kung) 1150616

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