Chinese Spouse at Kaohsiung Airport Pretends to Beg While Picking Up Relatives, Sparks Online Outrage: 'Damaging National Image'

(CNA reporter Tsai Meng-yu, Kaohsiung, June 14) A Chinese national recently posted a video online in which she appeared to pretend to beg while greeting relatives at Kaohsiung International Airport. She labeled the video as 'funny,' but it triggered strong backlash from netizens who accused her of 'damaging the nation's image.' The Aviation Police stated after reviewing the video that the incident appeared to be a prank among family and friends, with no illegal activities detected.

The Chinese national recently uploaded a video showing a male and a female Chinese visitor entering the country, followed shortly by a person wearing a hat and holding a paper bowl, resembling a beggar trailing behind them. The female Chinese visitor appeared to show a look of disgust, and the man behind the camera reportedly said, 'If you encounter this in Taiwan, just give him money and walk away.' The video later revealed it was a staged prank orchestrated by the individuals themselves.

Later, the Chinese national reposted the video under the title, 'Met my husband while studying in Germany, married into Taiwan three years ago. My family came to visit, and I encountered this at a Taiwanese airport. I was truly shocked when I saw the ending,' tagging it as 'funny.' The post later sparked controversy and was deleted. However, it had already been downloaded and widely shared by netizens, who criticized it as 'defaming the nation's image, treating nonsense as humor.'

The man behind the camera repeatedly said things like 'He's just asking for money,' and 'I'll give him money,' prompting angry responses from netizens: 'This would never happen in Taiwan. Don't treat China's low-level tricks as funny,' 'This Chinese national maliciously created a false video to slander Taiwan—her residency permit should be revoked and she should be deported,' and 'I suggest reporting this couple to the immigration authorities.'

However, the Kaohsiung Branch of the Aviation Police Bureau under Taiwan's National Police Agency stated that after reviewing the video, the scene appeared to be a prank among family and friends, with no evidence of coercion, threats, or other illegal acts. (Edited by Chen Jen-hua) 1150614

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