TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday protested Cambodia’s decision to deport a group of Taiwan citizens suspected of fraud to China.
On March 31, Cambodian police raided a telecom fraud center in Phnom Penh, arresting over 300 suspects from Taiwan and China, per CNA. Cambodian news outlets said the Taiwanese would be extradited to China as a goodwill gesture to Beijing.
The Cambodian foreign ministry said on Tuesday that the move to deport the suspects to China was in accordance with Cambodian law, per Reuters. It added that it adheres to the "one China" policy, which states there is only one China and Taiwan is part of China.
"The individuals handed over to the Chinese authorities are criminals, not ordinary people,” the Cambodian foreign ministry stated. “The handover of these individuals to the government of the People's Republic of China is no different from the practice by some other countries adhering to the 'one China' policy.”
According to Taipei, Cambodia arrested 180 Taiwanese suspected of fraud. On Sunday and Monday, almost 190 people were deported to China at the Chinese government's request.
Taipei does not know the number of Taiwanese included in the deportations. It said Cambodia refused to provide a list of those deported.
Taiwan had been negotiating with Cambodia for the suspects to be repatriated to Taiwan “in recognition of national jurisdiction.” It said the Cambodian government ignored its appeals.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry on Tuesday lodged a strong protest to Cambodia over its decision to deport the suspects to China. It also accused Cambodia of falling to Chinese pressure by not providing the full list of suspects.
Taiwan amplified warnings against its citizens traveling overseas and engaging in unlawful activities. The government had complained about nations, such as Cambodia, Spain, and Kenya, arresting and deporting their citizens to China following suspicions of fraudulent activities.
Cambodia is one of China's closest Southeast Asian allies. This week, Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平) will reportedly fly to Cambodia on a Southeast Asian trip.
Between 2016 and 2024, approximately 600 Taiwanese were arrested while overseas and extradited to China for suspected telecom fraud, per Mainland Affairs Council data. Since the countries had signed extradition treaties with China, the Taiwanese were sent to China instead of Taiwan to face legal punishment.
