Taipei accuses Beijing of pressuring Kenya to block Taiwanese participation in a major international ocean conference….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused China of pressuring Kenya to prevent Taiwanese participation in the 11th Our Ocean Conference, condemning what it described as Beijing’s “heavy-handed” diplomacy and interference in international cooperation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry said Taiwanese academics travelled to the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa on Sunday at the invitation of the Kenyan government to participate in a preconference academic exchange and present research findings related to ocean sustainability.
However, according to the ministry, the academics were denied entry badges upon arrival at the conference venue after organisers reportedly stated that Taiwanese passports were not recognised.
The ministry further alleged that the academics’ mobile phones and passports were confiscated and that they were detained for more than 20 hours before being allowed to board a flight out of Kenya.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the incident prompted the Ocean Affairs Council to cancel plans to send an official delegation to the conference, citing concerns over the safety and security of its representatives.
The ministry blamed the developments on Chinese pressure, arguing that political considerations had been placed above professional cooperation on marine conservation and sustainability.
According to Taiwan, the incident demonstrated China’s “heavy-handed and overbearing diplomacy” and undermined the spirit of international collaboration on ocean related issues.
Taiwan has participated in the Our Ocean Conference since 2015 and says it has made significant contributions to discussions on marine protection and sustainable ocean management.
The ministry criticised Kenya for excluding Taiwan from this year’s event and alleged that the decision was made under pressure from Beijing.
It further accused China of attempting to suppress Taiwan’s participation in international forums and called on Beijing to halt what it described as actions that undermine global cooperation.
Taiwan also urged like minded countries to take the issue seriously and work together to counter what it called China’s “bullying diplomacy”.
The latest dispute comes amid continuing tensions between Taiwan and China. Beijing considers Taiwan a part of its territory and has repeatedly stated that reunification with the mainland remains a national objective. Taiwan, meanwhile, continues to assert its self governance and opposes Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
The diplomatic row follows other recent concerns raised by Taiwanese authorities regarding China. Last month, Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs warned the public about potential cybersecurity risks associated with several Chinese developed mobile applications, including navigation app Amap, which has gained popularity among users in Taiwan.
The incident in Kenya is likely to add to broader tensions over Taiwan’s participation in international organisations and global events, an issue that remains a recurring source of friction between Taipei and Beijing.
