Taiwan on Saturday described the Spanish government's decision to deport 200 Taiwanese citizens to Mainland China as "deeply regretful." This is the latest deportation saga in the multi-billion dollar telephone ring scandal that forced several countries to deport dozens of Taiwanese citizens to China last year.

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Taiwan's foreign ministry said that it "deeply regrets" the decision by the Spanish government, adding that the decision has "infringed upon the rights and interests of our people and ignored the tradition of the EU countries' emphasis on human rights."  

The ministry claims that all the deportees are still in Spain and said that its representatives would work round the clock with Taiwan's judicial authorities and police to fight for the legal rights of the suspects.   

Earlier on Friday, Spain confirmed that it has given approval for the extradition of 269 "Chinese citizens" after a thorough investigation into the high-profile telephone ring scandal that was allegedly being conducted in several Spanish cities, including Madrid and Barcelona.

Spain now joins countries like Kenya, Cambodia, and Malaysia who have deported Taiwanese citizens to China. It has also become the first European country to deport suspects to China in connection with the telephone ring scandal.  

The telephone ring scandal became the main bone of contention in cross-strait relations last year. The scandal was also the first big crisis for Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, after she was sworn as the first female president of the self-ruled island nation in July last year.

The Chinese government claims that the Taiwanese criminal syndicate based on foreign soil have swindled millions of dollars from Chinese citizens.      

TagsTaiwan, Taiwan and China, Taiwan and Spain, Spain, Taiwan Deporation, China Telephone ring Scandal