Taiwan reaffirms sailor's citizenship after self-reporting Chinese ID card

Taipei, Feb. 14 (CNA) The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has said the Taiwanese citizenship of a member of the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) Navy, who voluntarily reported to the military his possession of a Chinese ID card, has been reaffirmed due to "special consideration."

"We affirm and encourage the spirit of the sailor in self-reporting, as he has also taken proactive and concrete actions in an attempt to cancel his household registration in Mainland China," said Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑), MAC deputy head and spokesperson, at a news conference Thursday.

The MAC, along with the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of National Defense (MND), has decided to reaffirm the Taiwanese citizenship of the sailor due to the "special consideration" outlined in Article 9-1 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, Liang added.

Under the act, Taiwanese citizens are prohibited from having Chinese household registration or a passport from China. Violators could have their Republic of China household registration canceled, lose their citizenship as well as their eligibility to undertake military service or hold public office.

However, Article 9-1 of the act also stipulates an exception for "situations deemed necessary by the authorities concerned out of special consideration."

According to Chinese law, a household registration is required to obtain a Chinese ID card, suggesting that the sailor involved, surnamed Yang (楊), possesses both.

Liang said that Yang -- whose mother is originally from China -- was very young when he obtained the Chinese ID card and had "clearly expressed to his elders his unwillingness to apply for it."

Yang also voluntarily reported the matter through proper channels and sought government assistance, Liang said.

"The MND will conduct a full investigation and take appropriate action, while taking consideration of the sailor's strong desire to serve the country and his career development in the military," Liang added.

In a press release issued after the news conference, the MAC said that Yang's unwillingness to apply for a Chinese ID card was "disregarded by relatives," who handled the matter on his behalf.

Yang submitted an application to the Chinese authorities on Wednesday to cancel his Chinese household registration, the MAC said.

The incident surrounding Yang's possession of a Chinese ID card drew media attention after the Naval Fleet Command issued a news release on Feb. 10, saying that a sailor had informed the Navy his mother had obtained a Chinese ID card for him without his knowledge.

Yang was initially a conscript undergoing military training before he enlisted as a voluntary service member, the command said. Local media reported that Yang served in the Navy's 168th Fleet on board a Chi Yang-class frigate.

The Navy later said it has transferred Yang from his current post to a position that has no access to sensitive or confidential military information.