Taiwan man with PRC permanent residence certificate loses citizenship

Taipei, June 6 (CNA) A Taiwanese man on Friday accused the government of "abuse of power" and "unlawful repression" after losing his citizenship for holding a Chinese permanent residence certificate as the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said its determination to enforce the law must not be challenged.

"Today, I speak with a heavy heart about the MAC's interpretation that holding a Chinese permanent residence certificate violates the law and warrants revocation of citizenship," Chang Li-chi (張立齊) said via a video, that was likely shot in China.

"It signified the end of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law in Taiwan," Chang said, according to the video broadcast on "Strait Express," a current affairs program aired by Southeast Television under Fujian Radio Film and TV Group Friday.

The news of Chang losing his citizenship was confirmed by MAC deputy head and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) at a press conference Thursday.

From now on, Chang must apply for an entry permit to enter Taiwan, Liang said Thursday.

In April, the MAC issued a new interpretation of Article 9-1 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (Cross-strait Act), which expanded the list of Chinese documents that can lead to loss of Taiwanese citizenship.

Article 9-1 does not allow Taiwanese to hold Chinese "household registrations" or "passports," but the MAC decided that because permanent resident certificates could be used to apply for household registrations, they should also be included under that provision.

Previous enforcement of Article 9-1 covered Chinese household registrations, ID cards and passports.

Chang is the first person to have his citizenship revoked under the new interpretation.

According to Chang, he is the first Taiwanese citizen to receive a Fujian permanent residence certificate in 2024 under Fujian province's project for "Cross-Strait Integration and Development Demonstration Zone."

Chang teaches at Huaqiao University in Fujian. Since receiving residency, he has been featured as a promotional example of the project, which includes 10 entry-exit measures aimed at facilitating exchanges between Fujian and Taiwan.

In the video, Chang challenged the MAC's new legal interpretation, saying it was not clearly stipulated in the Cross-strait Act.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is attempting to undermine cross-strait relations and divide the people on both sides, disregarding the development opportunities of Taiwanese compatriots in mainland China, Chang said.

On Friday, the MAC issued a statement, saying that no one "should harbor any illusions or challenge the government's resolve to enforce the law."

The statement said the government will revoke the citizenship of anyone confirmed to have household registration in China or to hold a Chinese permanent residence certificate, ID card, or passport, as this violates the Cross-Strait Act.

In mid-March, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced 17 major strategies in response to "five major national security and united front threats" facing Taiwan.

One of the strategies required the MAC and other agencies to inspect ID documents that Taiwanese military personnel, civil servants, and public-school teachers may have applied for in China, as a way of preventing and deterring united front operations disguised as "integrated development," according to a news statement issued by the Presidential Office.