The Taiwanese government will respond based on the principles of equality and reciprocity to a recent incident in which Taiwanese nationals had their passports withheld in Uganda and asked to produce Chinese passports instead. That came from Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Friday, August 14.

Three Taiwanese nationals had their passports withheld by Ugandan immigration officials at Entebbe International Airport on Wednesday, August 12. They were eventually allowed to enter the country, but officials demanded that they present their Chinese passports before their Taiwanese travel documents would be returned. They cited compliance with the country’s “One China” principle.

Lin said that he had instructed Taiwan’s representative office in Somaliland to look into the matter, and that negotiations were still ongoing. He also called on Taiwanese nationals to carefully assess the necessity and potential risks of travel to Uganda in the near term. He reminded those currently in the country to remain vigilant and stay in close contact with the representative office in Somaliland.

Lin said that when countries use the so-called “One China” principle as an obstacle to visas or entry, it naturally affects bilateral relations, particularly if there are economic, trade, or cultural exchanges involved. He added that such cases are handled based on the principles of equality and reciprocity.