Years-long push secured Taiwan's spot in Japan family registry: Ex-envoy

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (CNA) Taiwan's former top representative to Japan said Tuesday that Taiwan's inclusion in Japan's family registry system was the result of years of discreet efforts by Taiwanese diplomats and Taiwan-friendly Japanese lawmakers.

Japanese media outlet Nikkei reported Monday that starting in May, Tokyo will allow Taiwanese nationals married to Japanese citizens to list their place of origin as "Taiwan" in the official family record database. Previously, individuals had to select "China."

In response, Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), Taiwan's representative to Japan from 2016 to 2024, said on Facebook that numerous under-the-radar efforts by Taiwanese diplomats and assistance from Japanese lawmakers had made the change possible.

According to Nikkei, the existing rule that led to Taiwanese individuals being listed as being from China has been in place since 1964 when Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, had diplomatic ties with Tokyo.

In 1972, Japan switched diplomatic recognition from ROC to the People's Republic of China (PRC), acknowledging the latter as the only legitimate government of China. The only option in the family registry for Chinese and Taiwanese individuals remained China.

Hsieh said Tuesday that after taking office in May 2016, he received complaints from Taiwanese people living in Japan who had been forced to select China. He was asked to push Japan's government to change the rule.

Hsieh said that he had thought the arrangement "unreasonable" and noted that Japan's residence registry for foreign residents allows Taiwanese people to choose Taiwan over China when selecting their nationality.

However, Hsieh said he was told the only possible way to make the change was to amend the Family Register Act in Japan.

His office believed that it was unlikely Japan's Diet would change its law solely to cater to the needs of Taiwanese living in the country and that any attempt to do so would lead to protests and pushback from the PRC and China-friendly Diet members.

Hsieh said that two Japanese congressmen's wives were from Taiwan while he was in office. One of the two men told him that Japan was soon expected to amend its Family Register Act to require the inclusion of phonetic readings of personal names.

The congressman promised to look into the issue regarding Taiwan at that time, according to Hsieh.

He added that the congressman asked Taiwan's government to stay low-profile while he continued to rally more support on the issue.

On Monday, Taiwan's foreign ministry thanked all those who had helped facilitate the change, which is expected to take effect on May 26.

Taiwanese in Japan Excited about the Change

Meanwhile, two Taiwanese spouses married to Japanese partners told CNA that they were excited about the upcoming change and would register as being from Taiwan as soon as possible.

According to the new rules, a Taiwanese person registered as being from China will be able to change their nationality to Taiwan.

One told CNA that although the change does not mean Japan finally recognizes Taiwan as a country, it is still a positive step forward.

The most important thing is that somebody can identify as Taiwanese and Japan understands the importance of that, she added.

Japan's Justice Ministry told Japanese media Monday that the upcoming change is "a sign of greater consideration for identity."

Although the Japanese government says the change is technical, it still drew protests from the PRC.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Guo Jiakun (郭嘉昆) said Monday that "the question of Taiwan is purely an internal affair of China, which brooks no foreign interference."

"We urge Japan to stop making a sideshow on the question of Taiwan, and stop sending conflicting or wrong messages," Guo was quoted as saying by the English-language Kyodo News report.