TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's National Immigration Agency (NIA, 移民署), the government body responsible for immigration control and foreign resident management, confirmed on Tuesday (April 1) that the deportation process of Chinese social media influencer Xiaowei (小微) strictly adhered to established legal procedures. Officials emphasized the agency's unwavering commitment to safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty amid growing cross-strait tensions. The decisive action followed a high-level review meeting earlier in the day where security officials formally deemed her continued presence on the island a legitimate threat to national security, prompting authorities to escort Xiaowei to Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan's main international gateway, where she boarded a China Airlines flight bound for Guangzhou at 2:10 p.m.
Xiaowei arrived at the bustling airport complex around 12:02 p.m., flanked by stern-faced immigration officers who maintained a close watch throughout the deportation process. The tense atmosphere escalated dramatically during the check-in process at Terminal 2 when the influencer suddenly pulled down her protective face mask and shouted in an emotional outburst: "Am I wrong to be Chinese? I love my family and my country. Am I wrong?" Her passionate proclamation immediately caused a visible commotion among startled travelers and airport staff witnessing the scene. According to immigration authorities, officials had revoked her residency permit after discovering she had repeatedly promoted pro-China unification sentiments across various social media platforms, content that government reviewers determined posed potential harm to Taiwan's security interests and social stability in the politically sensitive island democracy.
The deportation represents part of a broader enforcement action in which the NIA recently targeted three Chinese nationals who had married Taiwanese citizens, including Xiaowei, after they expressed similar pro-unification sentiments on online platforms. In each case, Taiwanese authorities formally canceled their residency permits and issued strict departure orders requiring them to leave Taiwan within a 10-day window. In a tersely worded statement accompanying the deportation, the immigration agency reiterated its uncompromising stance on matters concerning national security and territorial integrity, emphasizing that it will continue to rigorously enforce immigration laws without compromise when foreign residents engage in activities deemed detrimental to Taiwan's interests.
