MOFA: China Pressured Kenya, OOC Host, to Block Taiwan's International Participation

(Taipei, April 16, CNA reporter Yang Yao-ju) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced today that China pressured Kenya, the host country of the 'Our Ocean Conference' (OOC 11), to block Taiwanese scholars from attending, leading Taiwan's delegation to cancel its participation. MOFA strongly protested Kenya's compliance with China's political demands and condemned China's 'thuggish' conduct, demanding an immediate end to actions undermining global ocean cooperation.

In a press release issued this afternoon, MOFA stated that Taiwanese scholars were invited by the Kenyan government, host of the 11th 'Our Ocean Conference' (OOC 11), to attend a pre-conference academic exchange session in Mombasa on April 14 and present professional research reports. Upon arrival at the venue for registration, the organizers refused to issue entry passes, citing non-recognition of Taiwanese passports. The Kenyan immigration authorities forcibly intervened, and despite Taiwan's strenuous efforts to negotiate, confiscated passports and mobile phones, detaining the scholars for over 20 hours before allowing them to depart by flight.

MOFA stated that the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) had dispatched a delegation as usual, but in light of Kenya's hostile actions and concerns for the safety of Taiwan's delegation members, decided to cancel participation. MOFA expressed strong protest against China's pressure on Kenya to block Taiwanese scholars from attending an international marine academic conference, and against the inhumane and internationally unacceptable actions—including passport and phone confiscation, and restrictions on personal and communication freedoms.

MOFA emphasized that Taiwan has participated in the 'Our Ocean Conference' (OOC) since 2015. However, Kenya, as this year's OOC host, succumbed to intense Chinese interference and pressure, disregarding Taiwan's long-standing participation and significant contributions, excluding Taiwan from the event and detaining its scholars—once again exposing China's bullying diplomatic behavior and its political override of marine sustainability expertise.

MOFA criticized Kenya for willingly becoming China's political enforcer and openly violating the OOC's principles of inclusivity and cooperation, expressing strong protest.

MOFA strongly condemned China's 'thuggish' tactics to suppress Taiwan's international participation and demanded an immediate end to such barbaric actions that harm global ocean cooperation. It also called on allied nations to take notice and jointly resist China's escalating coercive diplomacy.

MOFA affirmed that as a maritime nation, Taiwan has consistently and actively contributed to global marine ecosystem conservation and environmental sustainability. It will not fear or yield to China's arbitrary and aggressive actions and will continue to collaborate with the international community to advance global ocean cooperation. (Edited by Lin Hsing-meng) 1150616