Around 200 Taiwanese in Venezuela safe: Foreign ministry

Taipei, Jan. 7 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday that all approximately 200 Taiwanese nationals in Venezuela are safe following recent U.S. military action in the South American country to seize and detain its former leader, Nicolás Maduro.

Over the weekend, the United States launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and detained Maduro, who was later flown to New York along with his wife.

The pair face federal charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations. Maduro has denied the allegations.

Asked whether any Taiwanese were harmed during the U.S. military operations, MOFA told CNA that Taiwan's representative office in Colombia, which handles Venezuela-related affairs, had contacted all Taiwanese nationals in Venezuela and confirmed they were safe and unharmed.

MOFA on Monday issued its highest-level red travel alert for Venezuela due to the unstable political situation there.

It called on Taiwanese to refrain from traveling to Venezuela unless absolutely necessary and advised those already in the country to leave immediately, the ministry said in a press statement.

Also on Tuesday the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) confirmed that all Taiwanese nationals in Venezuela remain safe, citing Anderson Yu (游鈞聿), a leader of the Taiwanese Business Chamber in the country.

The OCAC said it established an emergency assistance association for overseas Taiwanese in Venezuela in 2018, which has been activated in response to the latest crisis.

According to OCAC data, 17 Taiwanese businesses are currently operating in Venezuela, with activities including auto parts, food processing, cosmetics, surveillance cameras, orchid cultivation, and acupuncture and massage services.