Expelled! Little Wolf Insults Head of State, Banned from Entering Taiwan for 5 Years

A Chinese exchange student from Nanjing, surnamed Wang, misused a camera angle to create an image that appeared to show him pinching the head of Lai Ching-te, who shouted 'Get him!' This incident sparked outrage online, leading to demands for the government to expel him back to China. (Image sourced from Threads)

[People News] On October 12, Republic of China President Lai Ching-te attended the closing ceremony of the 'Taiwan Bridge Project.' During the event, a video captured a Chinese exchange student, Wang, who used a camera angle to create a distorted image that seemed to show him pinching Lai Ching-te's head from a distance. He posted this online, claiming he would 'take down little Lai Ching-te,' which angered Taiwanese netizens and prompted calls for authorities to expel him. On October 16, Taiwan's Immigration Agency announced that after completing a legal investigation and consulting with the Ministry of Education and the Mainland Affairs Council, Wang's inappropriate behaviour violated the principle of equal dignity and caused social disturbances. He was expelled from the country at 3 PM that day, and his entry permit was revoked for 5 years.

The Immigration Agency further clarified that under Article 12 of the 'Regulations Governing Permission for People from Mainland China to Enter Taiwan' and other relevant provisions, if a person from mainland China engages in inappropriate behaviour that violates the principle of equal dignity during their permitted stay in Taiwan, their permission may be revoked. In Wang's case, in addition to revoking his entry permit and expelling him, he will also be barred from applying for entry to Taiwan for 5 years, and future applications will be subject to strict scrutiny.

The Immigration Department has emphasised that Taiwan is a democratic, free, and diverse society that respects differing opinions and normal communication. However, individuals from mainland China visiting Taiwan are required to adhere to our laws and relevant regulations to ensure normal and orderly exchanges across the Taiwan Strait. The Immigration Department will continue to enhance inter-agency cooperation and address illegal and irregular incidents to protect national security, social stability, and the order of cross-strait exchanges.

On the 12th, President Lai Ching-te (Lai Qingde) attended an event at National Taiwan University, where a Chinese exchange student surnamed Wang, believed to be from Nanjing, posted a side-shot video on Douyin. The video included captions that threatenedly stated, "Is this your only chance in this life?" and "Little Lai Ching-te (Lai Qingde) taken down," which sparked outrage among Taiwanese netizens who called for the Ministry of the Interior to expel him. As the controversy grew, Wang quickly issued an apology, clarifying that there was no intention to cause any personal harm.

In response, prominent Taiwanese writer Sun Weimang took to Facebook to question the Chinese exchange student: "Would you dare to do this to Xi Jinping?"

Sun Weimang remarked that this Chinese exchange student "submits in a totalitarian society but behaves arrogantly and mischievously in a democratic one," thereby misusing the freedom of speech that Taiwan offers.

He provided a hypothetical scenario: if Xi Jinping were speaking on stage and a Taiwanese student filmed him from below with a phone, using their fingers to mimic pinching Xi Jinping's head, and posted it online with captions like "Little Xi Jinping taken down" and "Oppose the red unification and annexation actions," the Chinese public security would undoubtedly rush onto the campus to arrest him, leading to his "disappearance"; after being detained for a year and a half, he would likely face prosecution for "subverting state power," which could result in a life sentence.

In response to this incident, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) held a regular press conference on the afternoon of the 15th. Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wenjie stated that they have received relevant reports. According to the 'Regulations Governing the Permission for People from Mainland China to Enter Taiwan,' if individuals from Mainland China engage in various exchange activities in Taiwan and violate the principle of mutual dignity, the Immigration Agency has the authority to revoke or annul their stay permits and cancel their licenses. Furthermore, these individuals will be barred from entering Taiwan again for a specified period. Currently, the case is being discussed by the relevant authorities for further action. △