Taiwan says China forced Malaysian state to ban Taiwanese entry on virus fears

TAIPEI, March 5 (Reuters) - Taiwan's foreign minister said
on Thursday that China had forced the Malaysian state of Sarawak
to reinstate a ban on travellers from the island as part of
coronavirus control steps, saying Beijing was taking "joy" in
the measures.
Taiwan says the World Health Organization's (WHO) inclusion
of the island as part of China's virus area has mislead
countries into believing the island's virus situation is as
serious as China's.
Taiwan, which says it is an independent country and not part
of China, has reported 42 cases and one death, compared with
more than 80,000 cases and over 3,000 deaths in China.
Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, has separate immigration
controls from the rest of Malaysia. This week it had included
Taiwan as part of a ban on visitors from China, then removed it
after Taiwan complained, according to Taiwan's foreign ministry.
"After talks, #Sarawak in #Malaysia recognized #Taiwan isn't
#China & lifted its #Coronavirus travel ban," Taiwan Foreign
Minister Joseph Wu tweeted.
"Guess what? China forced Sarawak into banning Taiwan again!
China takes joy in shoving Taiwan around & then expects
gratitude for its #Wuhan sacrifice. That's sickening."
China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a
request for comment. China has expressed displeasure with
countries that ban Chinese travellers.
Sarawak immigration authorities also did not immediately
respond to a request for comment.
The virus crisis has worsened already-poor ties between
China and Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.
Malaysia and Taiwan have closed economic and cultural links,
despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.
This is not the first time Taiwan has faced travel
exclusions because of what Taiwan says is a mistaken link to
China.
Both Vietnam and the Philippines both lifted flight bans on
Taiwan after Taipei complained. Taiwan has been less successful
in the case of Italy, whose ban on Chinese flights includes
Taiwan.
Taiwan is separately ruled from China and China has no say
in the island's health policy.