Taiwan's Retaliatory Measures Against Morocco's Visa Ban
In a swift diplomatic response, Taiwan has halted the processing of visa applications from Moroccan nationals effective immediately, following a similar action taken by Morocco against Taiwanese travelers last week. This development, announced by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), came after the Moroccan Embassy in Japan suspended its Visa Confirmation Letter (VCL) review process for Taiwanese citizens starting July 23. The MOFA highlighted that this suspension significantly impedes two-way exchanges between the two nations, as Taiwanese passport holders rely on the VCL issued exclusively by the Moroccan Embassy in Japan and are not eligible for an e-visa from Morocco.
According to MOFA, Taiwanese travelers who managed to obtain a VCL from the embassy prior to July 20 are still permitted to travel to Morocco, provided their permits remain valid for entry. Emphasizing the principle of reciprocity, the ministry decided to suspend visa processing for Moroccan nationals, with exceptions made only for special government-approved projects. The ministry urged Morocco to address the situation seriously and to restore convenient travel arrangements for both business travelers and tourists. The aim is to reestablish normal bilateral exchanges as soon as possible.
Last week, reports from various Taiwanese travel agencies indicated that the Moroccan Embassy in Japan had ceased accepting visa applications from Taiwanese nationals, which led to the suspension of visa authorization services for Taiwanese travelers. As of now, the Moroccan government has not publicly responded to this escalating situation.
As reported by focustaiwan.tw.
