Taiwanese Iguandao Believers Arrested in Mainland China
Three Taiwanese Religious Believers Arrested in China, Sparking Concerns Over Religious Freedom
Taipei, Taiwan – Three Taiwanese citizens who practice Iguandao, a legal religious association in Taiwan, have been arrested in mainland China, raising concerns about religious freedom and the safety of Taiwanese nationals visiting the mainland.
the Taiwan Affairs Office of China’s State Council confirmed the arrests on December 13th, stating that zhou, Jiang, and ji were detained by the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Bureau on suspicion of “organizing and using a cult to undermine law enforcement.”
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) in Taiwan swiftly condemned the arrests,calling for the immediate release of the three individuals and emphasizing the importance of protecting their rights. The MAC stressed that Iguandao is a legitimate religious organization with millions of followers in Taiwan and criticized the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for its history of arresting and detaining Taiwanese religious figures visiting the mainland.
“The CCP has repeatedly demonstrated a lack of respect for religious freedom,” stated the MAC. “These arrests are a clear example of the CCP’s attempts to infiltrate Taiwan under the guise of religious exchanges while suppressing genuine religious practices on the mainland.”
the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF),a quasi-governmental organization responsible for cross-strait exchanges,echoed the MAC’s concerns. SEF Secretary General Luo Wenjia revealed that the three Taiwanese Iguandao believers were arrested in Guangdong in October while simply reading scriptures and were not involved in any political activities.
“We urge the mainland authorities to respect freedom of religious belief and release these individuals immediately,” said SEF. “Taiwanese citizens should be aware of the risks associated with traveling to mainland China, particularly for religious purposes.”
The arrests have sparked debate in Taiwan about the safety of religious exchanges with mainland China and the CCP’s intentions towards Taiwanese religious groups.
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Taiwan and mainland china, particularly regarding issues of religious freedom and cross-strait relations.
Taiwanese Religious Freedom Under Threat After Arrests in Mainland China
Taipei, Taiwan – The arrests of three Taiwanese citizens practicing Iguandao, a legal religious association in Taiwan, in mainland China are raising alarm bells about religious freedom and the safety of Taiwanese nationals visiting the mainland.
Zhou, Jiang, and Ji were apprehended by the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Bureau in October on suspicion of ”organizing and using a cult to undermine law enforcement.” This claim was met with swift condemnation from the Taiwan Affairs Office of china’s State Council, which called for the immediate release of the individuals and emphasized the importance of protecting their rights.
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) criticized the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for its history of detaining Taiwanese religious figures visiting the mainland, stating, “These arrests are a clear example of the CCP’s attempts to infiltrate Taiwan under the guise of religious exchanges while suppressing genuine religious practices on the mainland.”
Adding to the concerns,the Straits Exchange foundation (SEF),responsible for cross-strait exchanges,unveiled that the detainees were arrested while simply reading scriptures and were not engaged in any political activities. SEF Secretary General Luo Wenjia implored mainland authorities to respect freedom of religious belief and release the trio immediately.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions between Taiwan and mainland China,particularly concerning religious freedom and cross-strait relations. The arrests have ignited debate in Taiwan about the risks associated with religious exchanges with mainland China and the CCP’s intentions towards Taiwanese religious groups.
The situation underscores the precarious nature of religious freedom for Taiwanese citizens in mainland China and raises questions about the CCP’s commitment to respecting religious diversity.