Taiwan shooter to be repatriated: mainland spokesperson

BEIJING, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- A male suspect of a shooting in Taiwan will be repatriated after his COVID-19 quarantine ends in Xiamen, a city facing Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait, said a mainland spokesperson on Tuesday.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, announced the decision made by local police when responding to a media question.

The male suspect confessed to shooting a man in New Taipei City when he was interrogated by local police in Xiamen, Ma said.

Taiwan media reported that the suspect flew to Xiamen on Nov. 22 after he committed the crime and stayed in quarantine upon arriving in the mainland city.

The repatriation decision was made as part of ongoing efforts to combat violent crime, safeguard people's lives and property on both sides of the Strait and maintain the order of cross-Strait exchanges, said Ma.