Reports increase of Taiwanese missing, detained in ChinaBy Chen Yu-fu and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerReports of Taiwanese going missing, being detained or interrogated, or having their personal liberties restricted in China increased about fourfold annually last year, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Last year, 221 Taiwanese who traveled to China were reported missing, were detained and interrogated, or otherwise had their personal freedom restricted, up from 55 the previous year, the council said. Previously, Taiwanese in China who encountered travel contingencies could contact the two associations for assistance, the MAC said. However, with communications suspended between the two associations, Taiwanese in China no longer have the same safety protections and face heightened risk, it said. Before traveling abroad, Taiwanese should check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel advisory table on the bureau’s Web site to assess the safety of their destination, Cheng said.
