Cambodia has deported 13 Taiwanese citizens to China in connection with a telecom fraud case. The move is likely to trigger another deportation saga between China and Taiwan. The news of the deportation was confirmed by China's Ministry of Public Security on Tuesday.

 About 50 Chinese nationals were also deported along with the 13 Taiwanese nationals, Reuters reported. All the suspects were arrested in Phnom Penh after Cambodian police conducted a raid to nab criminals suspected of committing internet and phone extortion fraud. Cyber fraud which costs China billions yearly has also driven some Chinese victims to suicide.

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Uk Heisela, a senior official in Cambodia's immigration department, claimed that no Taiwanese official was in touch with the Cambodian government over the case.

Taiwan Criticizes Cambodia's Deportation Move 

Taiwan's foreign ministry strongly protested againist Cambodia's deportation of its citizens. Taiwan claimed that Phnom Penh had acted under pressure from China. In June, Cambodia had deported another 25 Taiwanese suspects to China, while Kenya and Malaysia also deported several Taiwanese suspects despite protests from Taiwan.

China said has all concerned countries are fully cooperating to break the telephone fraud ring. Investigations into the case which began last November has lead to the arrest of 1,168 suspects including 347 Taiwan citizens.

Experts claim Taiwan cannot do much in the ongoing deportation fiasco, as it does not share any diplomatic relation with Cambodia, Kenya and other countries involved in the case. Taiwan as of today is officially recognized by only 22 countries, most of whom are small and poor countries located in African and the Latin American region.             

 Many countries are still hesitant to officially recognize Taiwan, for fear of provoking China. China considers Taiwan, which considers itself a sovereign nation, as a wayward province awaiting unification with mainland China. Taiwan separated from China in 1949 following a bitter civil war. 

TagsCambodia, Taiwan, Taiwan and China, Cross-Strait relationship