Comedian Huang Yihao was subjected to cross-border suppression by China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs severely condemned: It will never be tolerated in a democratic society.

Huang Yihao, a well-known crosstalk comedian and artist, performed a joke that satirized Chinese President Xi Jinping and was harmed by Chinese people. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today (21st) severely condemned China's use of transnational repression in an attempt to infringe on the personal safety and freedom of expression of our people through the threat of violence; and emphasized that democratic Taiwan will never allow foreign forces to use violence and fear to infringe on the people's personal safety and silence the people.

Chinese people are suspected of being dissatisfied with Huang Yihao's criticism of the Chinese Communist regime, and funded people in Taiwan to follow the surveillance and plan harm in an attempt to prevent public performances. The New Taipei District Prosecutor's Office has charged five people involved in the case with attempted harm and other crimes.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that freedom of expression is an inviolable cornerstone of a democratic society and no one should suffer violent reprisals for making comments. China is suspected of using money to bribe local people, using criminal methods such as surveillance, positioning, and causing car accidents to prevent artists and cultural workers from performing on stage. This is a vicious political silencing act. Democratic Taiwan will never allow foreign forces to use violence and fear to violate people's personal safety and silence them.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that this case highlights the threat of transnational repression in China that has invaded democratic societies, attempting to further cause a chilling effect by harming individuals and eroding the space for free expression and public discussion in society. The government will firmly safeguard national sovereignty, democracy and the rule of law, and people's security, and pursue relevant responsibilities in accordance with the law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that no external threats or coercion are allowed to intervene in how the Taiwanese people express their opinions and choose their own future. This is also the biggest difference between democratic Taiwan and authoritarian China.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the international community to jointly face the threat of China's transnational repression and reject authoritarian regimes' use of the openness and freedom of democratic societies to engage in intimidation, infiltration and violent persecution. Taiwan, the Republic of China, will continue to deepen cooperation with countries with similar ideals to jointly prevent transnational repression through information exchange and related mechanisms, protect those who are threatened, and ensure that the instigators and executors behind the scenes are duly held accountable. Only through unity and cooperation can democratic countries effectively curb authoritarian violence and protect people's freedom from fear.