Taiwanese Identity Under Scrutiny: Immigration Bureau's Actions Spark Concerns

A Taiwanese City Councilor Voices Discontent Over Immigration Bureau's Demands for "Removed from Chinese Household" Certificates from Taiwanese Residents.

Recent actions by Taiwan's Immigration Bureau have raised concerns among residents and elected officials. The Bureau has notified many recently naturalized Taiwanese citizens, including those with 陸配 (lù pèi) (Mainland Chinese spouses), requesting they provide documentation proving they have relinquished their Chinese citizenship. These individuals are given a three-month deadline to submit documents such as notarized certificates of loss of Chinese citizenship. Failure to comply could result in the revocation of their residency permits and household registration.

This issue came to the forefront when 台南市議員 (Tainan City Councilor) 李宗翰 (Li Zong-han) spoke out on Facebook. He highlighted the case of a resident who, despite already having a Taiwanese identity card, completed his military service, graduated from university, and is currently running a business, paying taxes, but is now questioned about his Taiwanese citizenship.

李宗翰 (Li Zong-han) detailed the situation of 林先生 (Mr. Lin), whose family were 台商 (Taiwanese businesspeople). He was born in China but returned to Taiwan at the age of two. Now, Mr. Lin has been issued a document from the Immigration Bureau demanding proof of the termination of his Chinese household registration. The challenge, 李宗翰 (Li Zong-han) points out, is that Mr. Lin never applied for Chinese household registration in the first place. He questions how someone can provide documentation for something they never possessed.