Taiwan Warns Citizens After Detention of Traveler in China

The Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan issued a formal warning to its citizens to exercise caution when traveling to China. The alert follows an incident in Shanghai where a Taiwanese man was allegedly detained for six hours and questioned by plainclothes officials. The man, a former employee of Amnesty International, was reportedly pressured to unlock his phone so officials could examine emails and files concerning human rights activities in Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and China.

According to the council, 426 Taiwanese citizens have faced movement restrictions, disappearances, or detentions in China since January 1, 2024. This figure includes 160 missing persons and 36 detainees.

The warning comes ahead of new Chinese entry and exit regulations scheduled to take effect on September 15. The council claims these regulations will formalize existing controls and provide authorities with broad discretion in enforcement, which may lead to the targeting of individuals based on past political or rights-related activities.