A Chinese influencer known as "Yaya in Taiwan" has had her residency revoked because she posted videos on social media that the government says promoted cross-strait unification by military force. The Mainland Affairs Council, which regulates relations with China, says advocating war lies outside the bounds of protected free speech in Taiwan.
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00:00Making headlines in Taiwan this week, a Chinese social media influencer married to a Taiwanese
00:04national had her residency revoked because she posted videos on social media which reportedly
00:10advocated for Taiwan's unification with China by military force.
00:18Taiwan's National Immigration Agency says statements by the influencer advocating for
00:22unification by force violate regulations governing Chinese citizens living in Taiwan, which say
00:28residency can be revoked if they threaten national security or social stability.
00:32The influencer, known as Yaya in Taiwan, will not be able to apply for another residency
00:37permit for five years and will have to leave Taiwan, though given her family situation,
00:42it's unclear exactly when.
00:59The influencer has defended herself, suggesting the decision violated her right to freedom
01:03of speech in Taiwan.
01:05But earlier this week, Taiwan's interior minister said freedom of speech is not an excuse to
01:09break Taiwan's laws.
01:11And at a Thursday press conference, the Mainland Affairs Council, which manages relations with
01:15China, had this to say.
01:28Taiwan's political and human rights treaty, Article 20, states that the so-called war
01:34of persuasion is prohibited.
01:39This treaty is recognized as a domestic law in Taiwan, so anyone who persuades war in
01:48Taiwan, especially persuading to use war to attack Taiwan, is absolutely not allowed.
01:59So this is not a guarantee of freedom of speech.
02:03A source familiar with the matter has confirmed to Taiwan Plus that the influencer remains
02:07married to a Taiwanese citizen.
02:09Taiwan Plus also learned that two other Chinese influencers have been reported to the immigration
02:13agency, and their cases are under investigation.
02:17Another Chinese citizen had her residency revoked in January, after her Taiwanese husband
02:21died.
02:22In her case, authorities decided she was unstable and was at risk of disrupting social stability
02:26in Taiwan.
02:28The cases come as Taiwan's government unveils new measures to combat Chinese efforts to
02:32influence many aspects of Taiwanese society, from attempts at military infiltration and
02:36espionage, right down to grassroots social media content at the individual level.
02:41Howard Zhang in Cairns, Toronto for Taiwan Plus.