TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday warned China that evacuations and consular protection should not be used for political gain, amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The ministry said that more than 3,000 Taiwanese citizens and expatriates in the Middle East are all safe, per Liberty Times. After outreach by Taiwan’s representative office in Israel and other overseas missions, no evacuation requests have been received so far.
Ministry Spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said Taiwan’s missions across the Middle East have activated emergency response mechanisms. Except for the representative office in Bahrain, which has temporarily adopted work-from-home measures in line with local government safety guidelines, all other missions in the region continue normal operations.
Hsiao added that Taiwan’s Dubai Office has received multiple calls for assistance from citizens. As airspace in the United Arab Emirates and nearby areas remains closed, the office is maintaining contact with Taiwanese businesspeople and expatriates and advising travelers to shelter in place until flights resume.
Responding to claims by the Chinese Embassy in Israel that Taiwanese nationals holding a Taiwan compatriot permit could register for evacuation to Egypt, Hsiao said that Taipei has already launched international operations to protect its citizens. The ministry and its overseas missions will continue providing necessary and timely assistance to ensure the safety of Taiwanese citizens.
Hsiao stressed that consular protection rights should not be used as a tool for political manipulation. The spokesperson also warned Taiwanese citizens about the risks of seeking Chinese assistance under the current complex situation in the Middle East.
DPP Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) said evacuation operations are highly sensitive sovereign acts. He said the CCP has tied humanitarian assistance to political preconditions by requiring the Taiwan compatriot permit during a crisis, in an attempt to diminish Taiwan’s international standing.
Chen said that once personal data and nationality recognition become politicized, Taiwanese citizens must carefully evaluate the potential legal and diplomatic consequences.
