Taiwan says China forced S'wak to ban Taiwanese entry on virus fears

CORONAVIRUS | Taiwan's foreign minister said on Thursday that China had forced Sarawak to reinstate a ban on travellers from the island as part of coronavirus control steps, saying Beijing was taking "joy" in the measures.

Taiwan said the World Health Organisation's (WHO) inclusion of the island as part of China's virus area has misled countries into believing the island's virus situation is as serious as China's.

Taiwan, which said it is an independent country and not part of China, has reported 42 cases and one death, compared with more than 80,000 cases and over 3,000 deaths in China.

Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, has separate immigration controls from the rest of Malaysia. This week it had included Taiwan as part of a ban on visitors from China, then removed it after Taiwan complained, according to Taiwan's foreign ministry.

"After talks, #Sarawak in #Malaysia recognised #Taiwan isn't #China & lifted its #Coronavirus travel ban," Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu tweeted.

"Guess what? China forced Sarawak into banning Taiwan again! China takes joy in shoving Taiwan around & then expects gratitude for its #Wuhan sacrifice. That's sickening."

China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China has expressed displeasure with countries that ban Chinese travellers.

Sarawak immigration authorities also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The virus crisis has worsened already-poor ties between China and Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.

Malaysia and Taiwan have close economic and cultural links, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

This is not the first time Taiwan has faced travel exclusions because of what Taiwan says is a mistaken link to China.

Both Vietnam and the Philippines both lifted flight bans on Taiwan after Taipei complained. Taiwan has been less successful in the case of Italy, whose ban on Chinese flights includes Taiwan.

Taiwan is separately ruled from China and China has no say in the island's health policy. 

- Reuters