A murder suspect who fled to China hours after allegedly shooting down a man in Taiwan with a gun on Monday is now “stuck” in a hotel quarantine upon arrival in the coastal city. Xiamen Sea – is independent to be easily caught by the authorities.
Taiwanese law enforcement officers sought help from their Chinese counterparts to bring the suspected gunman back to the island, Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) told CNN on Thursday.
Foreign visitors, from tourists to students, are largely banned from entering mainland China. Those allowed to enter as well as returning Chinese citizens must undergo at least 14 days of concentrated quarantine – and the same goes for defectors.
The suspect, named Huang, in his 30s, is believed to have shot a 45-year-old man early Monday in the city of New Taipei, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA). Taiwan (CNA).
The victim suffered two gunshot wounds to the neck and died at a local hospital late Monday, according to local police.
Meanwhile, Huang is said to have fled the scene in a silver car, which he later allegedly left in the parking lot of a shopping mall, CNA reported. He then allegedly tried to cover his tracks by changing clothes twice and taking different means of transportation to get to Taoyuan International Airport, where he boarded a plane leaving for China. Mainland China around noon, the report said.
Huang is said to be under quarantine at a hotel in Xiamen, CNA reported.
Taiwanese police are investigating the incident, according to CNA. The report added that China’s Ministry of Public Security has received the CIB’s extradition request.
In a reply to CNN, the CIB declined to comment on the extradition process, citing the fact that it is negotiating with Chinese authorities.
A top commenter on Weibo said: “(He) may be able to escape the arrest of the Taiwanese police, but he cannot escape the mainland’s epidemic prevention and control measures.
“After coming to the mainland, he must have been quarantined as soon as he got off the plane!” another said.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, noted the reports of the shooting without giving any details. “We are currently verifying the details of the situation,” she said.
On Weibo, some users saw the incident as an opportunity to promote Beijing’s claim to Taiwan.
“I hope the trial will be held in the mainland, and the central government will uphold justice for fellow Taiwanese, so that we can really benefit Taiwan and warm the hearts of the people.” , a popular comment.
Beijing considers the self-governing democracy of 24 million people as part of its territory, even though the Communist Party of China has never ruled Taiwan. For decades after the People’s Republic of China was founded, animosity reigned between Beijing and Taipei, with trade, travel and communications largely cut off and military conflict. outbreak.
But tensions began to ease in the late 1980s, and in 1990 the two sides signed the Kinmen Agreement, which allowed them to hand over illegal immigrants, criminal suspects and convicted criminals. judgment for each other.
In 2009, Beijing and Taipei signed an additional agreement to institutionalize the fight against cross-strait crime and provide mutual legal assistance, including “drugs, smuggling, money laundering, fraud, corruption and other economic crimes.”
Since then, Taiwan has received 502 suspected criminals from China, according to data provided by Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice.
Notable previous extradition cases include former Taiwan judge Lee Dong-ying, who fled to China’s southern Guangdong province after being convicted of corruption in Taiwan, and Chen Yung-chih. , a top wanted criminal involved in at least five shootings on the island.
China, on the other hand, has taken in 21 people from Taiwan, according to the island’s Ministry of Justice.
But relations between Beijing and Taipei have been icy since Tsai Ing-wen from the traditionally pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party became President of Taiwan in 2016. And with that, the numbers. Cross-Strait extradition cases also dropped sharply.
In 2015, Beijing handed over 63 fugitives to Taipei. That number dropped to 17 the following year, and has continued to decline ever since. Last year, only four suspects were returned to Taiwan from China.
And this year, as of September, not a single suspect has been extradited.
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