Taiwan Slams China's ID Card Initiative as 'Illusion'

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has condemned China's move to provide Chinese ID cards to Taiwanese citizens, calling it an effort to falsely assert legal sovereignty over Taiwan, according to the Taipei Times. MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng mentioned that Beijing's strategy is to turn Taiwanese people into Chinese nationals, potentially paving the way for future military actions against Taiwan. The controversy stems from a recent video featuring YouTuber Pa Chiung interviewing Lin Jincheng, the head of the Taiwan Youth Entrepreneurship Park in Quanzhou, China. Lin claimed that 200,000 Taiwanese had obtained Chinese ID cards over the past decade.

Chiu responded with caution, stating that the government cannot independently confirm the figures but assured that the matter would be managed with care. Over the past decade, 679 Taiwanese citizens have had their Taiwanese documents invalidated after obtaining Chinese IDs or passports, Chiu mentioned.
Chiu cautioned Taiwanese citizens about the insufficient personal data protection in China, advising them against applying for Chinese ID cards. Consequently, Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior has directed district offices to address cases involving local officials holding Chinese nationality in accordance with Taiwanese laws. The Ministry has identified five such instances, which are being managed under the Nationality Act and Household Registration Act, as reported by Taipei Times.

The Ministry also clarified that under Taiwanese law, Chinese nationals who marry Taiwanese citizens must renounce their foreign citizenship if they wish to engage in politics. This regulation recently resulted in the dismissal of former Nantou County Councillor Shi Xueyan, who did not renounce her Chinese nationality within a year of assuming office. Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang explained that the rule ensures elected officials hold only Taiwanese citizenship, and non-compliance leads to removal from office. The Ministry has issued multiple notices regarding this requirement.

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has condemned the government's actions, alleging it has deprived 300,000 Chinese spouses of their political rights. KMT Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling contended that individuals from China should be regarded as nationals of Taiwan, implying that the removal of public office rights signifies an unconstitutional 'two-state theory.'

However, MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh dismissed these claims, maintaining that the government's actions were in line with legal standards, reported the Taipei Times. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has continued to caution the public against sharing personal information with China, highlighting concerns over the sensitive nature of biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial recognition, needed for Chinese residency applications.

(Agency)