BY2 twins detained in Beijing, mistaken for same person

Singaporean twin sisters Miko and Yumi Bai, of the pop duo BY2, were briefly detained at Beijing customs after officials mistook them for the same person.

The pair were held at the airport for two hours because officials believed one of them had entered the country twice.

In a Weibo video recounting the ordeal, the sisters shared their experience, saying, "We kept repeating 'I want to go home' 10,000 times in our hearts," while describing the "psychological trauma" they endured.

A frustrated Miko explained in the clip that they waited for over an hour while customs officials seemed convinced she was attempting to re-enter the country, apparently unaware she was a twin.

Yumi added to their frustration, explaining that an officer even asked her if she had additional passports.

The incident sparked online reactions, with some netizens calling the airport's facial recognition system "embarrassing."

Others claimed they could easily distinguish between the sisters and expressed confusion over the mix-up.

The twins are based in China, where their third studio album, Grown Up, topped several music charts in 2010.

In 2021, Yumi became embroiled in the highly publicised divorce battle between Taiwanese-American singer Wang Leehom and his ex-wife, Lee Jinglei.

At the end of 2022, the twins posted on social media that they would not dwell on the "trash" they had discarded and would instead cherish the happy moments of the year.