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One of the top stories from this past week was the extradition of 45 Taiwanese nationals from Kenya to China in two separate incidents on April 8 and April 12. The Taiwanese had been arrested in Kenya on charges of involvement in a phone fraud ring.
On Friday, lawmakers from both major parties condemned the move. The legislature issued a declaration calling for the immediate dispatch of a government official to China to visit the Taiwanese nationals being held there. It also demanded their immediate release, calling on Beijing to refrain from similar moves in the future.
Legislature President Su Jia-chyuan said that the government has the responsibility of protecting the rights and safety of Taiwanese people. He said that Taiwanese suspected of crimes overseas should be repatriated to Taiwan for trial. He also said that disputes over jurisdiction should be resolved through negotiations and in accordance with the principals of international law.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, Malaysia deported 20 Taiwanese nationals back to Taiwan on Friday. They were arrested last month along with 33 other Taiwanese in Malaysia, suspected of telecom fraud against people in China.
China had requested that the suspects be deported to China for prosecution, but Malaysia sent them back to Taiwan instead.
Taiwan’s Cabinet on Saturday said that the government will not excuse any criminal acts involving its nationals. The Cabinet has also requested Chinese authorities to provide information regarding the alleged criminal activities of the 20 phone fraud suspects in order to facilitate their investigation.
The suspects, however, have been set free for lack of solid evidence of criminal activity. That sparked criticism that Taiwan has become a "haven for fraud criminals."
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Also this past week, the foreign ministry has sent condolences to Japan after two large earthquakes struck the country.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan on Thursday evening. That quake toppled homes and buckled roads, killing nine people and injuring over 800. Foreign Minister David Lin has sent a message of condolence to his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.
A second, more powerful earthquake struck early on Saturday, measuring a 7.3 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was less than 10 km away from the first one, which is being considered a foreshock. So far the combined death toll has surpassed 40 people, with nearly a thousand injured.
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And finally, this past week, President-elect Tsai Ing-wen and incoming Premier Lin Chuan have announced the names of officials set to take key positions in the Presidential Office and the Cabinet.
Tsai has named Lin Bih-jaw, the vice president of National Chengchi University as the new Secretary-General of the Presidential Office. She said Lin is well-suited for the position because he specializes in international security and has experience in politics.
She has also announced that current Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chief secretary Joseph Wu will serve as Secretary-General of the National Security Council.
Incoming Premier Lin Chuan has announced that Taiwan’s current representative to Australia, David Lee, will serve as the next foreign minister. Meanwhile, foreign ministry official Katharine Chang will serve as head of the Mainland Affairs Council, and Feng Shih-kuan, former CEO of the Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, will be head of the defense ministry.
Lin said all three will be able to contribute in their new positions thanks to their experience and expertise.