Surge in Cases of Taiwanese Nationals Missing or Detained in China
Rising Concerns Over Taiwanese Safety in China
Taipei, March 26: The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has disclosed that since January 2024, there have been 313 reported incidents involving Taiwanese individuals who have gone missing, been arrested, or had their freedoms curtailed in China, as per local media reports on Thursday.
Out of these 313 cases documented from January 1 to the end of February, 114 individuals were reported missing, 25 were arrested or interrogated, and 174 experienced restrictions on their personal freedoms, according to the Taipei Times.
Insiders suggest that the actual figures could be up to three times higher, as many incidents go unreported.
In February alone, 17 Taiwanese were either reported missing or detained in China, with half of them still unaccounted for, according to a source who requested anonymity. The official noted a monthly increase in such cases.
Data from the MAC indicates that 221 cases were recorded in 2025, marking a significant increase from just 55 in 2024.
In June 2024, China introduced a 22-point guideline aimed at penalizing staunch Taiwanese independence advocates, which has facilitated the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ability to detain or interrogate Taiwanese citizens more easily, as reported by the Taipei Times.
Authorities have warned that traveling to Hong Kong, China, or Macao has become increasingly perilous for Taiwanese individuals.
In an October report, the MAC revealed that from January 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, the movement of 132 Taiwanese nationals was restricted in China, with over 70% of these cases linked to fraud, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA).
Among those affected, 93 cases were fraud-related, 13 involved religious activities, one pertained to national security, and 25 were categorized as miscellaneous incidents, as stated by MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh during a press briefing, according to CNA.
During the same timeframe, 61 Taiwanese were reported as missing, and 19 were subjected to interrogation, bringing the total number of cases involving loss of contact, questioning, or movement restrictions to 212, Liang added.