Song, 57, a Taiwanese national working in Xiamen, Fujian province, was found dead in his rented apartment on 8/11. His body remains at a local funeral home, unable to be cremated due to legal complications.

The complication stems from his estranged son in Taiwan, who has refused to handle the funeral arrangements. The Happy Heaven Foundation, an organization assisting Taiwanese citizens who die abroad, confirmed they contacted Song's ex-wife and son.

Song's son firmly declined to travel to the mainland, stating he had "lost contact with his father for 23 years" and did not wish to be involved or take responsibility for the deceased.

Taiwanese regulations mandate that the handling of a citizen's body abroad requires confirmation from a direct relative. Social organizations lack the authority to make decisions on behalf of the family. If relatives persist in their refusal, local authorities must process the body as "unclaimed" after a specified period.

However, a different truth emerged from a friend of Song in Xiamen, contrasting sharply with the son's coldness. The friend revealed that Song lived alone, never remarried, and consistently sent money to his ex-wife and children from 2005. This financial support only ceased recently, coinciding with his deteriorating health.

While clearing Song's rented apartment, the friend discovered a three-person family photograph and his son's childhood scribbled drawings, carefully placed next to Song's sleeping pillow.

"He never abandoned his family in his heart; he just did not know how to overcome the practical barriers to return," the friend recounted.

The Happy Heaven Foundation continues its efforts to persuade the family and is working with the Xiamen funeral home to find a resolution, aiming to prevent the 57-year-old from dying unclaimed.

Nhat Minh (According to Ettoday)