A Chinese was arrested after traveling from China to Taiwan aboard a rubber dinghy without ever being stopped despite the island's strait being heavily patrolled.
The Guardian reports it.
The man, who was stopped at the port of Taichung, said he fled to seek "equality and freedom".
The man, whom the police called Zhou, said he left Quanzhou, Fujian province, in a 2.6-meter-long inflatable boat, purchased online, powered by an outboard motor.
The 180km journey took about 10 hours.
In the video of the arrest posted online, officers are heard asking Zhou "Did you come for freedom?" and he replies "Yes, I came by boat". "Taiwan has more freedom and equality", the man hears himself declare. And again, when asked if life was "bad" in China, Zhou replies "there are all forms of ugliness in China" adding that he has not committed any crime in his country.
Taiwan does not have a formal process for asylum seekers but examines on a case-by-case basis. The lack of specific refugee laws amid the tangle of visa rules in Taiwan is a cause of growing concern among local human rights groups, especially since the influx of people from Hong Kong has increased. Taichung police said Zhou has been screened to see if he has a fever or other symptoms of the coronavirus and will now remain in quarantine for two weeks. He is accused of violating the law on national security and immigration, risks imprisonment and deportation to China.