The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) has confirmed that a 19-year-old Taiwanese man from Changhua County, identified as Huang, who had been missing for 10 months, is currently detained by Chinese public security authorities, according to the Taipei Times.
Huang was reported missing in March 2024, and SEF Secretary-General Luo Wen-jia stated that official channels have verified his detention in China. However, the reasons for his detention remain confidential due to the personal nature of the case.
The SEF has been in contact with Huang’s family to gather a general understanding of the situation. Despite this, the lack of notification from Chinese authorities has sparked criticism over China’s adherence to the Cross-Strait Joint Crime-Fighting and Judicial Mutual Assistance Agreement. This agreement requires Chinese authorities to inform Taiwan’s National Police Agency when a Taiwanese citizen is detained on the mainland. Luo pointed out that China’s failure to follow this protocol left both the government and Huang’s family unaware of his whereabouts for a prolonged period, causing significant distress.
Huang’s family initially doubted the authenticity of a recent notification from Chinese authorities, suspecting it might be a scam. The notice, issued by a public security bureau in Datong, Shanxi Province, indicated that Huang was detained on December 2 on fraud charges. Verifying the notice took considerable effort.
In response to the situation, the SEF has formally reached out to China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits for more information. Huang, originally from Shengang Township in Changhua, is now undergoing legal proceedings in China. Meanwhile, his family and the Taiwanese government continue to seek clarity and updates about his case.
