Earlier this month, Chinese national and social media influencer Liu Zhenya (劉振亞) had her residence permit revoked by the National Immigration Agency (NIA) for advocating for forceful reunification of Taiwan on social media. Liu, who is known on Douyin to nearly 500,000 followers as “Yaya in Taiwan” (亞亞在台灣), was ordered to leave the country of her own volition by March 25, but has refused to do so.

Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang (劉世芳) reiterated that the National Immigration Agency (NIA) acted in accordance with the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. He says that their position on the matter has not changed; if Liu Zhenya refuses to leave Taiwan on her own, she will be deported.

The minister pointed out that Liu has applied with the Taiwan court to temporarily suspend the enforcement of NIA’s orders. Lawyer and former Chairman of the KMT Central Committee Examination and Discipline Committee Yeh Ching-Yuan (葉慶元) is assisting her in this legal battle. In the realm of public opinion, Liu also has the support of other pro-China media and internet celebrities who support her assertion that promoting military annexation of Taiwan falls under the scope of free speech. 

Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) expressed his support for the competent authorities in dealing with the situation according to the law, saying Liu’s statements threaten national security and social stability. Premier Cho Jung-Tai (卓榮泰) emphasized that freedom of speech is not absolute and a person cannot slander a country and also expect that country to protect them, citing similar limitations to free speech laws in other democratic countries.

Liu received Taiwanese residency based on her marriage and has three children. In an interview with TVBS News, she said she believes she is not at fault, claiming her statements about “unification through military force” were merely speculative. Contradicting the findings of the NIA’s investigation, Liu said she is in fact in favor of “peaceful unification.”