Taiwan should show the value it places on human rights by treating Chinese spouses and students living in the nation fairly, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said yesterday.
Wang said that while Taiwan repeatedly urges China to value human rights, Taiwan needs to treat Chinese spouses and students living in Taiwan in an equitable way.
The government wants to balance the rights of foreign and Chinese spouses in Taiwan, he said during a public hearing at the legislature for two proposed bills related to the rights of Chinese spouses.
The council is seeking to amend Article 17 of the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (台灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) to shorten from six years to four the length of time Chinese spouses of Taiwanese nationals must wait before they can obtain Republic of China citizenship.
“I will continue to push for the passage of the bill as long as I remain mainland affairs minister,” Wang said.
The Taiwan Solidarity Union, meanwhile, has proposed amending Article 21 of the same act to limit the rights of Chinese spouses to engage in politics in Taiwan, even after they become citizens.
Zhan Xiuying (湛秀英), head of an immigrant group in Greater Kaohsiung, urged political parties not to “see Chinese spouses from a political point of view.”
“Chinese spouses are not enemies or people from an enemy country. They are the daughters-in-law, wives and mothers of Taiwanese,” she said, adding that giving Chinese spouses their rightful status is the “best way to educate the next generation.”
Wang Zhin-sheng (王智盛), an assistant professor at National Quemoy University’s Department of Ocean and Border Governance, said the issue of whether to shorten the time Chinese spouses must wait to obtain citizenship should be considered on the basis of the nation’s overall immigration policy.
He said Taiwan could establish a strict evaluation process, but once the nation permitted Chinese to marry Taiwanese and live in Taiwan, they were entitled to the same rights as other foreign spouses.
Bruce Liao (廖元豪), an associate professor at National Chengchi University’s College of Law, said not all Chinese spouses support the same Taiwanese political party and that fair treatment is one of the first steps for political parties to win the recognition of Chinese spouses.
However, Shih Cheng-feng (施正鋒), a professor at Tamkang University’s Department of Public Administration, said that most countries design their immigration policies taking into consideration their unique national conditions.
China is an enemy country and has never renounced its ambition to take over Taiwan, he said, adding that Taiwan needs to remain alert.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
Speeding and badly maintained roads were the main causes of a school bus accident on a rainy day in Taipei last year that severely injured two people and left 22 with minor injuries, the Taiwan Transportation and Safety Board said. On March 11 last year, a Kang Chiao International School bus overturned inside the Wenshan Tunnel (文山隧道) on the northbound lane of the Xinyi Expressway. The tour bus, owned by Long Lai Co, exceeded the speed limit after entering the tunnel, the board’s investigation found. Sensing that the rear of the vehicle was swaying, the driver attempted to use the service and exhaust
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
RSS