China 'seizes' eight Taiwanese from Kenya

Taiwan has accused China of "extrajudicial abduction" after
eight Taiwanese acquitted of fraud in Kenya were deported to
mainland China.
They were among a group of suspects acquitted in Kenya last
week.
Taiwan's foreign ministry says they were forcibly put on a
China-bound plane and has demanded their release.
China has not responded in detail to the allegations, but has
criticised Taiwan for not considering itself as part of "one
China".
The incident comes as cross-strait relations are feared to be
entering a rocky period, say the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei.
'Gross violation'
Taiwan said the eight were among 23 Taiwanese people who
were accused in Kenya of being members of a telephone fraud
ring, which also included Chinese nationals.
They were arrested in Kenya at the end of last year and
charged with illegal entry and telecommunications fraud.
All of the Taiwanese, and some Chinese, were later acquitted.
The Taiwanese were detained when they went to a police
station last week to retrieve their passports.
On Friday, eight of them were put on a plane by Chinese
officials and sent to the mainland, despite a court order that
would have kept them in Kenya, say Taiwanese officials.
Taiwan has demanded their release, as well as for the release
of the remaining 15 Taiwanese still in Kenyan custody.
On Monday, Taiwan's foreign affairs ministry accused Chinese
officials of "obstructions", including delaying the court order
and preventing Taiwan's representative from reaching the
acquitted.
It said China's actions amounted to an "uncivilised act of
extrajudicial abduction" which represents a "gross violation of
basic human rights."
In response to a reporter's question on the matter, China's
foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said: "I might need further
understanding of the exact details of the case, but in principle,
countries which follow the 'one China' principle are worthy of
approval."
Beijing has refused to have dialogue with Taiwan's incoming
President Tsai Ing-wen unless she recognises the two sides as
part of one country.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan's current President
Ma Ying-jeou held historic but largely symbolic talks in
Singapore last November , the first between China and
Taiwan's leaders in more than 60 years.