TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Authorities may extradite a Taiwanese woman involved in a high-profile kidnapping case in the Philippines to China, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會) announced Thursday (Sept. 26). The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Chen from Taipei, was arrested in Seoul on Sept. 22.
MAC spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) stated during a press conference that the council does not have detailed information about Chen's case but believes that she could be extradited to China, which also has jurisdiction over the case due to an extradition treaty between China and South Korea.
Philippine police reported that the kidnapping involved Chinese and Chinese-American victims in late June. The suspect, referred to as "Li Na" by Chinese media, was apprehended in Seoul. Taiwanese authorities identified "Li Na" as Chen and are closely monitoring the case's progress.
Statistics reveal that from 2016 to May 31, 2023, over 600 Taiwanese implicated in cross-border telecom fraud have been sent to China.
Liang highlighted that Taiwan only has jurisdiction over crimes committed abroad that carry a sentence of more than three years. He noted that it remains unclear whether Chen was the principal offender or an accomplice in the crime.
The MAC will continue to follow the extradition process closely. This case underscores the ongoing challenges in handling cross-border crimes involving Taiwanese nationals.