By RK Shih/KHT Staff. AI illustration image.
KAOHSIUNG — The Kaohsiung-based Ocean Affairs Council (海洋委員會, OAC) on June 16 condemned the Kenyan government for blocking members of a Taiwanese delegation and detaining a Taiwanese university scholar for more than 20 hours ahead of an international ocean conference.
The incidents occurred before the 11th Our Ocean Conference (我們的海洋大會), scheduled for June 16 to 18 in Mombasa and Kilifi counties, Kenya. Taiwan has participated in the conference since 2022, but faced political interference from Kenya during preparations for this year’s event, the council said.
The OAC said the “Taiwan” registration option was removed from the conference’s online system, while access from Taiwanese IP addresses was blocked. Taiwanese representatives later submitted their registration information manually.
Shortly before departure, Kenya revoked previously approved electronic travel authorizations for several delegation members and canceled invitations for Taiwanese representatives scheduled to attend side events, the council said.
The council also said a Taiwanese national university scholar, who had been invited by the Kenyan government to attend a pre-conference academic exchange on June 14, was denied entry at the venue. Kenyan immigration officials refused to issue an entry permit, citing non-recognition of Republic of China (Taiwan) passports, according to the OAC.
The scholar was then detained by immigration authorities, who confiscated their passport and mobile phone for more than 20 hours. The scholar was held for more than 20 hours before being released to board a flight out of Kenya, the council said.
OAC Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said the incident showed that international marine cooperation platforms could still be disrupted by political factors. She said the handling of Taiwan’s delegation had harmed Taiwan’s right to take part in international ocean cooperation and damaged the credibility of the conference platform, according to the council.
The OAC called on the host nation to provide a reasonable explanation and urged the international community to protect open and fair access for Taiwan at international exchanges.
