Taiwan in Discussion on Whether to Accept Afghan Refugees 阿富汗爆逃難潮 台灣是否接納難民引關注

Currently, four Afghans with valid residence permits live in Taiwan. When asked Taiwan should join forces accepting Afghan refugees, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that Taiwan is yet to have refugee law so it can only offer limited assistance.

Many Afghans are fleeing the country after the Taliban seized control. Many countries around the world are accepting Afghan refugees. A media personality suggested the government join the team and allow 1,000 Afghan women to receive their education in Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that Taiwan doesn't yet have a refugee law and it will determine what feasible assistance it can offer under the current circumstances.

Tsui Ching-lin, Deputy Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson:” As our country hasn't yet finished drawing up a refugee law, the government can only look at the current situation and cooperate with the initiatives of the international community and countries with similar ideologies and offers feasible assistance within our capabilities.”

MOFA said cross-ministry coordination will be needed before Taiwan can open its doors due to the need to verify the identity of Afghan refugees, resettle them, and help them find jobs or attend school. 

Human rights groups say the government needs to pass a refugee law, as well as issue humanitarian visas. Statistics show Taiwan only aided 50 non-Chinese or Hong Kong refugees from Yemen, Nigeria, and other war-torn countries in the last 10 years. Human rights groups say Taiwan need not worry about an influx should it open its arms to refugees, since the island is geographically isolated and it is costly to come in.

Lin Shu-han, Refugee Issues Commissioner, TAHR:” The reality is that refugees aren't considering the national policies of countries when they are fleeing. If it's that difficult to establish a new law, then existing ones can be amended, such as the Immigration Act. This way, there will be a law to help these people in need of assistance to settle down and live in Taiwan.”

The Taiwan Association for Human Rights said there are currently four Afghans with valid residence permits to live in Taiwan. It urges the government to pay attention to when their permits expire and offer any necessary assistance. If more Afghan people arrive in Taiwan or transit in Taiwan in the future, those seeking asylum should not be regarded as illegal immigrants, and the principle of non-repatriation should not be violated.

塔利班掌控阿富汗，引發大規模逃難潮，各國也紛紛開始接收難民，台灣是否也有可能伸出援手，有媒體人建議政府優先接納1千名阿富汗女性來台接受教育。外交部對此回應，我國尚未完成制定「難民法」，將視實際情況在能力範圍內提供可行的援助。

外交部副發言人 崔靜麟：「由於我國尚未完成制定難民法，因此政府將視實際狀況，配合國際社會及理念相近國家的相關倡議，在能力範圍內提供可行的援助。」

外交部坦言，阿富汗難民因為涉及身份認定、安置、就業、就學等事項，需經跨部會協調。而其實人權團體早已呼籲政府應研議難民法或相關的人道簽證，根據統計過去十年台灣援助中港之外難民僅有50位，包括來自葉門，奈及利亞等戰亂地方，而由於台灣是海島國家，來台所需成本也高，人權團體認為並不會如外界擔心開放後就會有大量難民湧入的狀況。

台灣人權促進會難民議題專員 林姝函：「難民在逃亡的時候，他們(前往)的國家政策是那些，他們其實是根本沒有辦法去考量這些的。成立一個新的法規有困難的話，可以修改現有的入出國移民法也可以，讓這些需要協助的人，可以有一個法規在台灣安身立命。」

台灣人權促進會也表示現持有效居留證在臺灣境內的阿富汗人有4位。呼籲政府應留意他們在台居留期限，提供必要的協助。如果接下來有阿富汗人抵達、轉機台灣，不應將試圖尋求庇護之人視為單純的非法入境，勿犯不遣返原則。