TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang (劉世芳) sidestepped direct questions Wednesday (March 26) about the controversial deportation of a Chinese social media personality, insisting instead that immigration authorities had followed established protocols. When pressed by legislators about the case of Liu Zhenya (Yaya, 劉振亞), whose removal from Taiwan has ignited fierce debate across the political spectrum, the minister maintained a cautious stance. While acknowledging the public scrutiny surrounding the decision, the Minister Liu emphasized that her ministry remains receptive to criticism and guidance from various sectors of society regarding immigration enforcement policies.
The case has become a flashpoint in Taiwan's ongoing struggle to balance national security concerns with civil liberties. Immigration officials at the National Immigration Agency (NIA, 移民署) revoked Yaya's residency permit following her public statements that appeared to endorse China's potential use of military force against Taiwan. The Chinese influencer's contentious departure unfolded Tuesday evening at Taipei Songshan Airport (台北松山機場), where she boarded a flight without her Taiwanese husband and children, creating emotional scenes that quickly circulated on social media platforms. Her separation from family members has added a human dimension to what officials characterize as a straightforward application of immigration regulations.
Appearing before lawmakers at the Legislative Yuan (立法院) on Wednesday, Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang (劉世芳) maintained a carefully neutral position on the specific details of Yaya's case. According to the Taiwanese official, the case was handled according to established regulations, refusing to be drawn into a discussion about the particular circumstances that led to the influencer's deportation. The minister did confirm that should Yaya seek to visit her children in Taiwan in the future, such applications would be evaluated strictly according to standard immigration protocols. This approach has frustrated opposition legislators who sought greater transparency about the decision-making process in cases involving family separation.
During the legislative session, Minister Liu offered a broader context by revealing that approximately 70 cases currently involve Taiwanese nationals who also possess Chinese identity documentation, a dual-status situation that creates administrative and security challenges for authorities. Among these cases, about 15 individuals have taken steps to cancel their household registrations in Taiwan. When pressed for specific details about these individuals, the minister invoked the "Personal Data Protection Act" (個人資料保護法) as justification for providing only aggregate numerical information. The handling of cross-identity cases represents just one facet of the increasingly complex relationship between Taiwan and China, where personal connections often become entangled with broader geopolitical tensions and security considerations.