Taipei [Taiwan], August 25 (ANI): Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA) has deported a Japanese social media influencer after he appeared in a controversial TikTok video declaring that “Taiwan belongs to China,” according to a Focus Taiwan report.
The video, filmed on August 18 at the iconic Ximending LGBTQ Rainbow landmark in Taipei, featured two Japanese nationals: one identifying himself as Aira Todomi and the other as 42-year-old Hiroyuki Tanaka. In the clip, both men unfurled the flag of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) while professing their “deep love for China.” It was Tanaka’s statement on Taiwan’s sovereignty that triggered backlash.
The NIA stated that the video violated Item 13 of Article 18 of Taiwan’s Immigration Act, which allows the government to deport or bar entry to foreigners deemed to endanger national interests or public security. While the agency did not specify how the video met these conditions, it stressed that the remarks were “inappropriate.”
On Monday morning, Tanaka was expelled from Taiwan and banned from re-entry. Todomi, who left the island immediately after the filming, has also been blacklisted, the NIA confirmed.
Investigations revealed that Tanaka, who is married to a Taiwanese national, admitted to participating in the video to boost his online following, particularly among audiences in China.
In the TikTok footage, Todomi, speaking in both Mandarin and Japanese, said disputes between Taiwan and China should be resolved “between the two sides,” while expressing hope for closer Sino-Japanese ties. Tanaka echoed the sentiment before making the statement that led to his deportation. Later, Todomi continued filming near Taipei Main Station, holding both the PRC and Japanese flags.
The video drew sharp criticism from Taiwanese netizens and political commentators, with some reporting the incident to the NIA. The agency confirmed that both men had entered Taiwan under the Taiwan-Japan visa-free program.
The NIA reiterated that while foreign visitors are welcome, statements or actions undermining Taiwan’s sovereignty will not be tolerated, a stance it emphasized in its statement.
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