Taiwan deports Chinese tourist who sought asylum

TAIPEI, Oct 26 (Reuters) Taiwan authorities today deported a Chinese man who left his tour group earlier in the week and later turned himself in and asked for asylum, police and local media said.

After an investigation into the matter, police sent the man back to China, a Taipei police source said, declining to give further details, including the man's name.

Local media reported that the 55-year-old man, who they said was named Jia Jia, turned himself in yesterday night, asking for asylum in Taiwan.

Jia said he would be punished in China if authorities there learned he had left the tour group, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported.

Taiwan, which is more prosperous than most of the mainland, began allowing a limited number of Chinese tour groups in 2002 and has admitted about 160,000 Chinese nationals. Despite concern about tourists overstaying their visas, Taiwan officials aim to let as many as 1,000 tourists visit per day, pending negotiations with China. Taiwan seldom grants asylum requests.

REUTERS DKB DS1647