Former CCTV Anchor Cheng Wanjun Deported from Taiwan

According to RFI Chinese, former CCTV anchor Cheng Wanjun arrived in Taiwan from Thailand seeking humanitarian protection on November 2. Taiwan's Immigration Agency stated he was deported back to Thailand on November 4 due to a lack of specific evidence and valid entry permits. The Mainland Affairs Council noted they could not verify his claims of persecution.

Prepared from public sources with AI assistance. This is not independent verification of every reported claim.

Arrival and Deportation Sequence

According to RFI Chinese, former China Central Television host Cheng Wanjun arrived in Taiwan from Thailand on November 2 and posted videos seeking humanitarian protection during a transit stop at Taoyuan International Airport. Taiwan's Immigration Agency stated that because Cheng failed to provide specific evidence, did not meet aid criteria, and lacked valid entry documents, he was lawfully returned to his previous transit point in Bangkok, Thailand, in the early hours of November 4.

The Immigration Agency stated that a specific area in the airport's restricted zone was arranged for his rest and meals. The agency added that due to the individual's non-cooperative attitude, strong resistance during boarding, and self-harming behavior, necessary measures were taken to ensure flight safety in accordance with the law.

Official Taiwan Response and Evaluation

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated that because multiple similar cases occur annually, the government must maintain a screening mechanism and cannot handle every case through temporary detention. The MAC indicated that the key issue is the government's inability to verify Cheng's claims of persecution, noting that aside from his own statements, no third-party evidence could be found, and he had previously been able to travel in and out of mainland China without restricted personal freedom.

The MAC emphasized that the government follows established criteria when handling such cases and could only return Cheng to Thailand under existing mechanisms. The agency further stated that while the government generally maintains a supportive stance toward mainland Chinese dissidents, it expects all parties to respect Taiwan's laws and border management system.

Reactions and Unverified Claims

According to the report, Cheng expressed disappointment and anger over the forced deportation in a subsequent video, claiming he suffered severe physical and psychological harm during the process. He accused the MAC of making judgments without thoroughly reviewing materials and vowed to continue speaking out for justice and democracy. Overseas commentator Mo Zhixu expressed surprise on X that his former colleague had been driven into overseas exile.

The report noted limited background details: Baidu AI indicates Cheng previously worked as a lecture speaker for CCTV. However, public records show no official documentation regarding Cheng's self-reported six-year imprisonment and persecution starting in 2019, leaving these accounts as unverified unilateral claims by the individual.

Other reports on this event

Each report keeps its own date, wording and attribution. Differences are not presented as independently verified facts.

RFI 中文 · 2026-11-04Former CCTV Speaker Seeks Asylum in Taiwan, Sent Back

According to RFI Chinese, Cheng Wanjun, a Chinese national claiming to be a former CCTV speaker, jumped transit at Taoyuan Airport on November 2 to seek political asylum. Taiwan's National Immigration Agency stated that due to a lack of evidence and valid documents, he was deported to Bangkok.

Incident and Repatriation Sequence

A Chinese national identified as Cheng Wanjun arrived at Taoyuan Airport from Thailand on November 2, intending to transit to Beijing, but bypassed standard transfer procedures and posted a video on social media to publicly request political asylum in Taiwan.

Taiwan's National Immigration Agency issued a statement on November 4 saying that after consulting with the Mainland Affairs Council, it was determined that the individual failed to provide concrete evidence or valid entry documents, prompting his deportation to Bangkok in the early hours under immigration laws.

Claims and Official Responses

According to Cheng's video statements, he previously worked as a magazine chief editor and a program speaker for state broadcaster CCTV, claiming he was imprisoned for six years after his remarks were reported in 2019 and later sought refuge abroad after release.

The Mainland Affairs Council noted that the government maintains screening mechanisms and could not verify the persecution claims solely through personal statements without independent third-party evidence, adding that the agency took necessary measures during boarding due to his uncooperative behavior.

Reactions and Reported Context

The rescue appeal sparked public debate, with the ruling party's legislative caucus suggesting the situation be evaluated through human rights perspectives, while some internet users expressed national security concerns regarding potential infiltration risks.

Reports indicate that similar incidents have occurred previously, such as in 2024 when other Chinese nationals attempted transit jumps at Taoyuan Airport, ultimately resulting in deportations or transfers to safe third countries due to visa limitations.

RFI 中文 ↗