Taiwan on Monday accused China of abducting eight of its citizens from Kenya who were facing deportation after the Kenyan High Court acquitted them of cyber crime earlier last week.

"This is an uncivilized act of illegal kidnapping and a serious violation of basic human rights," Taiwan Foreign Ministry said in its statement.

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Taiwan also demanded that Chinese authorities release its eight citizens immediately.

Taiwan claimed that the eight missing Taiwanese were legally allowed to stay in Kenya for 21 days after being acquitted by the Kenyan High Court. However, China pressured the Kenyan government to hand over the eight Taiwanese nationals before the end of the deportation period.          

The eight Taiwanese were among 23 Taiwanese nationals, who along with other Chinese nationals, were being tried by Kenyan courts of cyber crime-related cases. China reportedly pressed for extradition of all the accused in January, but Kenya's government did not accept the demand back then.

China is yet to issue any official statement to Taiwan's latest accusation, but a firm response from Beijing is expected anytime soon.

Tensions keeping flaring between the two countries owing to their acrimonious history.

TagsTaiwan, china, Taiwan and China