Tsai Ing-wen Defends Decision To Deport Scholar

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has defended her government’s decision to deport mainland scholar Li Yi, saying he poses a "serious and direct" threat to the island’s security and safety.

Li -- an active advocate of using force to unify Taiwan with mainland China -- was deported by immigration officers upon arriving in Taipei on Friday morning and was sent back to Hong Kong.

Speaking to reporters after attending an event, Tsai said Li's calls for a forcible seizure of Taiwan cannot be accepted and stressed he must be expelled to ensure social safety and stability.

Taiwanese media reports said the scholar had originally been invited by the Chinese Unity Promotion Party to speak at a forum in Taichung on cross-strait unification and development, and take part in a demonstration afterwards.

But Li denied he was planning to attend the forum or join the protest, saying he was only visiting Taiwan to do some sightseeing.