The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Taiwan has issued a travel advisory following an incident where a Taiwanese family faced denial of entry to Cuba. The incident occurred on Sunday, as reported by a Taiwanese expatriate, Danny Yen, currently residing in Canada. Yen and his family, traveling on Republic of China (ROC) passports, were on a nine-day trip to Cuba but encountered unexpected complications.
According to Yen, only his wife and one child were allowed entry into Cuba, while he and two other family members were denied access. Cuban immigration officers cited adherence to the one-China concept, considering the ROC as part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), leading to the non-recognition of their passports. Yen expressed surprise, as his Taiwanese friends had successfully visited Cuba in May and July without any issues.
In response to Yen’s inquiry about the sudden change in policy, Cuban officials stated, “This is our new policy because Taiwan and China now have a strained relationship.” The family faced significant inconvenience, enduring a wait of more than ten hours at Havana Airport before deciding to return to Canada.
ROC passport holders generally enjoy visa-free travel to Cuba for up to 180 days, provided they also possess a Cuba Tourist Card, a travel permit widely available at travel agencies outside Taiwan. However, in light of recent developments, MOFA has advised Taiwanese passport holders to either postpone their trips to Cuba or verify their eligibility for entry with the respective airlines.
To emphasize the seriousness of the situation, MOFA issued an orange travel notice for Cuba, signifying the second-highest level of caution on its four-tiered travel advisory scale. The orange advisory suggests that unnecessary travel to Cuba should be avoided, highlighting concerns about safety and security. The color-coded system is employed by MOFA, with grey indicating caution, yellow suggesting evaluation, orange advising against non-essential travel, and red indicating an outright prohibition on ROC nationals traveling to a particular destination.
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