The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that more than 70 Taiwanese travelers
reportedly assisted by China to fly from Istanbul to Shanghai were not
stranded in Middle East conflict areas.

Chinese state media reported that the group had been stuck overseas after
flights were canceled and later departed from Istanbul with help from Chinese
officials.

But Taiwan's foreign ministry says it received no notification from its
overseas offices about the case ...

... and believes the travelers were affected by disrupted return flights
rather than being trapped in war zones.

Officials say many tour groups have recently had to reroute travel plans due
to the conflict, with some waiting in the mediterranean for replacement
flights.

The ministry says that as of yesterday, more than 1,500 Taiwanese had already
returned home with government assistance ...

... while about 79 people in the Middle East are still seeking help to return.

(IG)