Taiwan today accused Kenya of violating the human rights of its citizens who were taking part in the international oceans conference “Our Ocean,” which is taking place in the Kenyan city of Mombasa from June 16 to 18, and blamed China for pressuring the East African country.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), its citizens had their passports and mobile phones confiscated and were detained for more than 20 hours before being deported.
In a statement, the ministry said that “it vehemently protests and condemns the pressure exerted by China on the Kenyan Government to reject the participation of Taiwanese academics at the international conference on oceanic academic exchange, as well as the barbaric acts of confiscation of passports and mobile phones and of restricting personal freedoms and freedom of communication — actions that violate human rights and international norms.”
Kenya’s foreign affairs secretary Korir Sing’oei defended that his country’s foreign policy “recognizes only one China.”
“Anyone who claims to hold a Taiwanese passport would not normally be allowed to cross our borders for lack of the proper documentation and would not, under any circumstances, be part of a formal state meeting convened by the Government of Kenya,” added Sing’oei.
The East African country is hosting the annual oceans conference, which focuses on addressing critical ocean-related issues, including climate change, biodiversity, and pollution.
Hundreds of delegates from Africa, the United States (US), the European Union (EU) and Caribbean and Pacific island nations vulnerable to climate change are taking part in the conference.
Organizers have sought to position Africa — which is hosting the event for the first time — as a driving force in global ocean governance.
China and Taiwan split in 1949, following a civil war.
For decades, China has regarded Taiwan as part of its own territory and says the island should remain under its control.
Taiwan, which maintains formal diplomatic relations with only 12 states worldwide, relies heavily on American arms to deter any military action by China, which regards the self-governing island as an “inalienable part” of its territory and has never ruled out the use of force to take control.
