Kenya Detains Taiwanese Delegates, Sparking Diplomatic Dispute

Two Taiwanese delegates were detained over 20 hours by Kenya before the Ocean Conference.

During the 11th Our Ocean Conference held in Mombasa, Kenya, on June 16, 2026, two Taiwanese delegates were denied entry and detained by Kenyan authorities for over 20 hours. During this period, the delegates had their passports and mobile phones confiscated, further escalating the diplomatic controversy according to JURIST.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly condemned Kenya's actions, blaming the incident on pressure from China. Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung criticized Kenya’s unilateral interpretation of the 'One China' policy, accusing Kenyan authorities of distorting it to block Taiwanese participation in the conference. He stated, "Kenyan authorities insisted on unilaterally distorting their so-called interpretation of 'One China,' expanding it without limit to the point of blocking our people from attending the meeting." JURIST report.

Conversely, Kenya's Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei, defended the detention and denial of entry, emphasizing that Kenya recognizes only one China and thus does not recognize Taiwanese passports. He explained, "Any person purporting to hold a Taiwanese passport would ordinarily not be allowed through our borders for lacking proper documentation and would not in any event be part of a formal state meeting convened by Kenya government." This statement was reported by Al Jazeera.

The Our Ocean Conference is an annual gathering focused on ocean conservation and sustainable use. It draws a mix of governments, scientists, and civil society organizations. The exclusion of Taiwanese delegates highlights ongoing geopolitical challenges tied to Taiwan’s international recognition and the influence of China's 'One China' policy on host nations, impacting diplomatic norms at global forums Al Jazeera analysis.