Chinese man who filmed airport restricted areas barred from Taiwan

Taipei, June 29 (CNA) A Chinese man who uploaded video footage of restricted areas at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport will be barred from entering Taiwan for two years, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) said Monday.

The man uploaded a vlog to the Shanghai-based video platform Bilibili on Thursday under the account name "White Sheep in the Sky" (天上白羊), documenting his arrival at the airport. The video included footage of security screening and immigration inspection areas, where photography is clearly prohibited.

The video also repeatedly referred to Taiwan as "China Taiwan" and appeared to intentionally cover the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) flag with a People's Republic of China flag emoji.

After the video circulated on the social media platform Threads, the NIA told Taiwanese news media that it had identified the traveler and placed him on a watchlist.

According to the agency, the man entered and departed Taiwan in November 2025. He is suspected of using a concealed wearable camera to film restricted areas at the airport, in violation of airport regulations.

The NIA said such conduct not only disrupts airport security procedures but may also infringe on the privacy and personal data rights of other travelers.

The agency said individuals caught filming prohibited areas will be ordered to stop immediately, and those who refuse to comply may be detained for investigation. Those who have already left Taiwan will be placed on a watchlist.

Huang Yu-chieh (黃于倢), an officer with the NIA's Entry and Exit Affairs Division, said the man will be barred from entering Taiwan for two years under regulations governing entry permits for Chinese nationals.

After the two-year ban expires, any future applications he submits to enter Taiwan will be subject to strict review in consultation with relevant agencies, including the Mainland Affairs Council, Huang said.