Taipei: Two Taiwanese followers of the Unification Church have been arrested in China and are currently unable to return to Taiwan, as reported by the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

According to Focus Taiwan, the SEF received a request for assistance from a family member of the detained individuals. SEF Deputy Secretary-General Li Pao-wen disclosed this information during a news briefing, though he refrained from revealing details regarding the individuals' identities, the reasons for their arrest, or the timing of the assistance request.

Li's announcement followed a February 28 report by Radio Taiwan International (Rti), which included a statement from a Taiwanese man named Chang Tung-che. Chang revealed that his parents, both Taiwanese nationals, were detained on January 12 by public security authorities in Xiamen, China, for proselytizing. Chang's father, Chang Pi-hsien, has since been released on bail, while his mother, Lu Chia-chen, remains in detention.

The SEF, a semi-official organization responsible for managing technical affairs between Taiwan and China, has sent an official inquiry to its Chinese counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), regarding the incident. Additionally, other Taiwanese government agencies, including the Ministry of Justice and the Criminal Investigation Bureau, have been informed about the arrest.

Li mentioned that while engaging in "general religious exchange" might not pose issues for Taiwanese individuals in China, activities perceived as "proselytizing" by Chinese authorities could lead to more severe consequences and increased risks.

According to The Korea Herald, the Unification Church, founded by the late Rev. Moon Sun-myung in 1954 in Seoul, aims to create "one world under the sky," transcending racial and national boundaries. The church reportedly has over 3 million followers globally.

The SEF's confirmation of the arrest of the two Unification Church followers comes on the heels of the arrest of three Taiwanese members of the I-Kuan Tao religious group in China last October. They were suspected of "organizing and practicing as members of a cult that undermines law enforcement" and remain jailed despite efforts by Taiwanese authorities to secure their release.