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Mainland Chinese journalist Wang Zhian banned from Taiwan after mocking disabled DPP candidate
- YouTuber Wang Zhian is blocked from the island after saying the ruling Democratic Progressive Party uses people with disabilities to gain support
- Taipei authorities say the entry ban – its first for a mainland reporter – was issued because Wang visited on a tourist visa then made TV appearance
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Amber Wangin Beijing
Taiwanese authorities have blocked the entry of an influential mainland reporter after he made an offensive joke about a disabled legislative candidate from the island’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party during a talk show appearance in Taipei.
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The move has sparked heated debate in Taiwan and beyond. While most on the island have been supportive of the five-year entry ban against former Chinese state media reporter Wang Zhian, some have criticised the DPP for silencing its critics.
Taipei’s announcement of the ban – its first against a reporter from mainland China – came two days after Wang appeared on a Taiwanese political talk show during his 14-day visit to the island to create election-related content for his YouTube channel, which has more than 1 million subscribers.
Wang, who has been banned from mainland Chinese social media, is based in Tokyo.
Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency said on Wednesday that the ban was imposed because Wang entered Taiwan on a tourist visa, but his participation in the show did not correspond with the purpose of the trip.
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