Rules on restoring Taiwan citizenship to be tightened over China fears

Taipei, Aug. 13 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior (MOI) has proposed an amendment that would allow it to refuse restoring Taiwanese citizenship to Taiwan-born individuals who obtained Chinese identity documents unless they met qualifying criteria.

The draft amendment, announced Tuesday, means that Taiwanese nationals who have held a Chinese passport or those with Chinese household registration would have to prove they made significant contributions to Taiwan's national interests or meet other criteria to restore their Taiwanese citizenship.

According to the MOI, the proposed amendment to the "Regulations Governing Permission to Restore the Status of People of the Taiwan Area for People from the Mainland Area with Original Household Registration in Taiwan" is part of the 17 strategies proposed in March by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to address national security threats from the People's Republic of China.

The ministry said the rules would apply to people who originally had household registration in Taiwan but who registered in mainland China or obtained a Chinese passport, thereby losing their "Taiwanese identity."

The amendment does not require approval from the Legislature, the MOI said.

The draft outlines three qualifying criteria for restoration of Taiwanese citizenship, including making significant contributions to Taiwan's national defense, international image or social stability, or benefiting Taiwan's overall interests.

Humanitarian exemptions is the other factor and could include cases where a person lost Taiwan identity involuntarily as a minor due to the actions of their legal guardian, or where there are "emotional links" to relatives in Taiwan or health factors, according to the MOI.

Applicants would need to provide evidence for one of the three qualifying criteria, the ministry said.

Applicants would also be required to submit proof showing they have lost mainland household registration and have not applied for, do not hold, or have renounced a Chinese passport.

Furthermore, to determine whether an applicant has committed serious crimes outside Taiwan, the draft also calls for a criminal record certificate issued within the past three months by the Chinese government or other overseas authorities, to be verified by competent authorities in Taiwan or Taiwan's overseas representative offices.

Those under 18 would be exempt.

The proposed amendment adds three situations in which approval may be denied, revoked or annulled: involvement in political propaganda for the Chinese Communist Party; violations of mainland policies or laws; or conduct posing a risk to national interests.

The ministry said restrictions would apply to actions that harm national security or national dignity, such as collecting or leaking state secrets, illegally acting as an agent or distributor for commercial services in China, or failing to comply with entry and exit rules.

Acts considered damaging to national interests -- including leaking trade secrets, destroying public facilities, or inciting social unrest -- would also have negative consequences.

Cases in which approval to restore Taiwan identity is revoked or annulled after it has been granted would be jointly reviewed by the National Immigration Agency and other relevant agencies, the MOI said.