In the wake of President Chen Shui-bian's (
This attempt to lure those Taiwanese who may not be fully cognizant of cross-strait issues and international norms into obtaining Chinese ID cards is the latest attempt to underscore China's insistence that Taiwan is part of China.
Millions of Taiwanese travel to China for business or leisure each year, and under the "Taiwan Compatriot Travel Document," they are subjected to numerous inconveniences. But with a Chinese ID card, some think they will be able to enjoy the same rights that Chinese nationals have and, at the same time, enjoy the benefits of Taiwanese citizenship when they come home. They want the best of both worlds, but have they seriously thought of what this entails?
Although the Taiwanese government recognizes dual citizenship, it makes an exception with China, mainly because of Beijing's hostile attitude toward Taiwan. The Statute Governing the Relations Between the Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (
Getting a Chinese ID may appear to be a boon for some people. But along with that status comes the obligations that Chinese citizenship brings. If the Chinese government were to arrest a person or confiscate his or her property, that person's rights would be no different from the rest of China's population. This is what a person would be getting in exchange for the loss of his or her Taiwanese citizenship.
According to Article 11 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Act Governing Relations Between the Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (
Additionally, if a Taiwanese were to obtain a Chinese ID or passport, he or she would be considered as someone from the "mainland area," and may face considerable difficulties in both cross-strait and international travel. This person would be treated as a Chinese national when he or she applies to return to Taiwan, and may be regarded with suspicion by many other countries due to the problem of illegal immigration from China.
Taiwanese should see China's "united front" strategy for what it is. They should seek to gain a better understanding of Taiwan's laws and regulations, as well as China's political and social situation, rather than act precipitously. If people fail to look before they leap, they will one day find it is too late for regrets.
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