Taiwan Condemns China’s Influence in Blocking Its Participation at Kenya Ocean Conference

Taiwan’s foreign ministry accused China of pressuring Kenya to exclude Taiwanese delegates from an international ocean sustainability conference, resulting in detentions and cancellations.

Editorial Team · Jun 16, 2026 · 2 min read · Source: socialnews.xyz

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sharply criticized China after Kenyan authorities blocked Taiwanese academics from participating in the 11th Our Ocean Conference held in Kenya. Taiwanese researchers, invited by the Kenyan government for a preconference academic exchange, faced detention and confiscation of their passports and mobile phones, according to the ministry.

The Taiwanese delegation had arrived in Mombasa to present their research but was not granted entry badges at the venue. Kenyan officials reportedly refused to recognize Taiwanese passports, detaining the academics for more than 20 hours before allowing them to leave the country. The Ocean Affairs Council of Taiwan subsequently canceled its planned official delegation to the conference, citing safety concerns following Kenya’s actions.

The Foreign Ministry highlighted that Taiwan has regularly participated in the Our Ocean Conference since 2015, contributing to global ocean sustainability efforts. It condemned Kenya’s exclusion of Taiwan as a direct result of China’s “heavy-handed and overbearing diplomacy,” which prioritized political disputes over professional collaboration. The ministry accused China of treating the conference as a platform to assert its territorial claims over Taiwan, overlooking the event’s principles of inclusiveness and cooperation.

Taiwan urged Beijing to halt what it called “barbaric actions” that undermine international cooperation on ocean issues and called on like-minded nations to stand against what it described as China’s aggressive diplomatic tactics. This incident reflects ongoing tensions, as China continues to claim Taiwan as its own territory, pressing for reunification by force if necessary, while Taiwan maintains its sovereignty backed by its population’s strong support.

In a related development, Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs recently warned citizens about cybersecurity risks from Chinese-made mobile applications, including a leading navigation app. This further illustrates Taiwan’s heightened vigilance regarding Chinese influence and interference across diplomatic, environmental, and technological spheres.