50 lose Taiwanese citizenship due to Chinese identity documents

Taipei, Nov. 4 (CNA) About 50 people have lost their "Taiwan status" because they were confirmed to hold household registrations in China or have obtained Chinese passports, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) head Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said Tuesday.

Speaking to the press, Chiu said household registration agencies have been notified to revoke the household registrations of the 50 individuals after evidence of their holding China-related documents was confirmed.

He said the cases may be have been reported by members of the public and confirmed through investigations or discovered by relevant authorities.

Article 9-1 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area "clearly stipulates" that "people of the Taiwan Area may not have household registrations in the Mainland Area or hold passports issued by the Mainland Area," Chiu said.

Violators will have their Taiwanese household registration revoked, he said.

In effect, the individuals will lose their "Taiwan status," meaning their Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) citizenship and associated civil rights, according to the MAC, which spoke about it in June.

Chiu did not say Tuesday what would happen to those to have their household registration revoked.