What in the World
What in the World
Why Taiwan is deporting Chinese influencers and “mainland wives”
Up next
April 9, 2025
10 minutes
Available for over a year
Taiwan’s government recently deported Liu Zhenya, a Chinese national who goes by “Yaya in Taiwan” on social media. It’s after Liu posted comments on Douyin — the Chinese version of TikTok — that Taiwan’s government described as threats to national security. Since then Taiwan has deported two other “mainland wives” (Chinese citizens with Taiwanese husbands) over similar concerns about their social media posts. It’s also investigating several others.
Benny Lu from BBC Chinese explains why Taiwan’s government is concerned about what it calls “Chinese propaganda.” He also discusses how people in China and Taiwan have reacted to the deportations.
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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: William Lee Adams and Josh Jenkins
Editor: Verity Wilde