TAIPEI, TAIWAN: Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA) has revoked the dependent-based residence permit of Chinese influencer Liu Zhenya after she publicly advocated for military unification with Taiwan.
Liu, who goes by the online name “Yaya in Taiwan” (亚亚在台湾) and has a significant following on Douyin, was summoned for questioning by Taiwan’s immigration authorities following complaints about her content.
The NIA cited national security concerns in its decision to cancel her residency, barring her from reapplying for five years.
Authorities cite national security risks
The controversy began when Liu posted a video claiming she had been reported for allegedly using rhetoric aligned with China’s United Front.
In her content, she stated, “The mainland no longer needs any other reasons to unify Taiwan by force,” and questioned why China had yet to take military action.
On Tuesday, the NIA confirmed receiving reports that Liu had openly advocated for Taiwan’s unification by force.
While Taiwan upholds freedom of speech, the agency stated that her remarks threatened national security and social stability.
Citing Article 14 of the Cross-Strait Act, the NIA moved to revoke her residence permit.
Additionally, Liu has been prohibited from reapplying for dependent residency for five years. Authorities have allowed her some time to arrange care for her family members in Taiwan before her departure.
Liu claims freedom of speech is being restricted
Following her interrogation, Liu posted another video describing her experience.
She revealed that immigration officers questioned her for about three hours, inquiring about her family members and whether she was acting under instructions or receiving financial support for her content. Liu denied these allegations.
She also expressed frustration, arguing that her remarks were merely personal opinions.
“I am an ordinary person. I form my thoughts based on different media sources. Many politicians in Taiwan discuss the People’s Liberation Army daily, so why can’t I express my point of view? Where is Taiwan’s so-called freedom of expression?” she said.
Liu also defended her statements, saying she was only promoting the idea of “兩岸一家親” (the notion that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family) and expressing pride in her home country.
She further questioned why Taiwanese media were allowed to report freely on Taiwan-China relations while she was singled out for her social media discussions.
Government stance and further investigations
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) reiterated that while spouses of Taiwanese citizens may obtain residency, this does not grant them immunity from legal consequences.
MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) stressed that authorities have the right to revoke residence permits if individuals pose risks to national security.
According to reports by Taiwanese media, Liu’s case has drawn further scrutiny of other Chinese social media influencers residing in Taiwan.
Several other online personalities, including one with over 70,000 followers and another with more than 140,000, have also been summoned by immigration authorities for questioning.
One influencer, known as Enqi, has already completed her questioning, while another, who goes by the name Xiaowei, has received official notification from immigration authorities.
The MAC emphasised that individuals who endanger national security or promote actions against Taiwan’s sovereignty may have their residency revoked.
Liang stated that while general discussions on unification could be considered a matter of political preference, openly advocating for military action crossed a line that could not be tolerated.
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