A Chinese student in Taiwan who criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping during a live Internet broadcast applied for long - term residence on the island on Monday amid a possible backlash if he returns to his homeland.
During the live stream on March 12, Li Jiabao, who hails from China's Shandong province and who is enrolled as an exchange student at Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science in the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan, criticized Xi for declaring a life - long presidential term for himself.
"I'm planning to stay in Taiwan for a long time, no matter how hard life gets here, " the 21 - year - old said, according to Taiwan's state - run Central News Agency.