Taiwanese man missing after visiting Hong Kong ‘being investigated by mainland’
- Chinese authorities say they are investigating Lee Meng-chu for ‘activities that endanger state security’
- Lee is believed to have distributed images of mainland troops massing equipment near Hong Kong
Mainland Chinese authorities have said they are investigating a Taiwanese man who went missing after entering Hong Kong and reportedly crossing the border into Shenzhen last month.
Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the mainland Taiwan Affairs Office, confirmed at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday that Lee Meng-chu was being investigated for “activities that endanger state security”, without disclosing further details.
In Taipei, the government of President Tsai Ing-wen expressed grave concern over the detention of Lee and called on the mainland authorities to provide a full account in addition to allowing Lee’s family to visit him on the mainland.
“We are deeply concerned about the detention of our national Lee Meng-chu in China and have asked the Mainland Affairs Council and relevant agencies to negotiate in full force with the Chinese side about the issue,” the Presidential Office said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Mainland Affairs Council, the island’s top cross-strait policy planner, said the mainland authorities must “provide detailed information about where he was detained and why he was restricted of his personal freedom in line with the agreement on cross-strait joint efforts to fight crimes”.