As the government is contemplating how to alter rules governing cross-strait exchanges, the TSU yesterday proposed prohibiting Taiwanese citizens from concurrently holding PRC passports.
Aware of the potential political fallout, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) was hesitant to take a definitive stand on the issue, though it said it would assign ample weight to the proposal.
Meanwhile, lawmakers from the other three parties differed on the wisdom of introducing the legislation.
"In light of the hostility across the Strait, we consider it necassary to revoke the citizenship of Taiwanese people in possession of PRC passports," TSU legislative whip Chen Cheng-lung (
To that end, Chen said that his party is mulling a bill that would give the government the specific right to do so.
He argued that such legislation is necessary to help protect national security and prevent legal disputes from arising in view of the increased contacts between people on both sides.
"With Beijing active in pitching the "I am Chinese" tag, Taiwan will have increased difficulty in settling the identity crisis," the TSU lawmaker warned.
"It is time people take sides and pledge their allegiance to either country -- but not to both."
Chen expressed apprehension that confusion over loyalty in Taiwan would otherwise deepen, once the government puts in place the so-called direct links -- trade, mail, and transportation -- with China.
An estimated five million Taiwanese would travel across the Strait each year, he cited official statistics as saying.
The 13-member TSU caucus, who had a breakfast meeting with MAC Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong (陳明通), claimed that the council shared their views and is working to push for its adoption.
On Monday, MAC Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said that her agency would put forth a sweeping set of revisions to statutes governing cross-strait exchanges by the end of November.
But yesterday evening, the MAC called a news conference where officials admitted that existing rules are prone to legal disputes but that they have not, as of yet, agreed on a solution.
Johnnason Liu (
To address the matter, he said the council found it desirable to tighten household registration rules in Taiwan. But he dismissed efforts to link the issue to the sovereignty row between Taiwan and China.
For the first time since the legislative session began in early February, the KMT caucus said it had no objection to the TSU proposal.
KMT legislative whip Lin Yi-shih (
Reasoning along this line, he suggested extending the requirement to all Taiwanese nationals with dual citizenship.
But the PFP branded the legislation meaningless.
PFP legislative leader Daniel Huang (黃義交) said that, based on his knowledge, very few Taiwanese have PRC passports, adding that the bill would only serve to alienate Taiwanese businesspeople in China.
To avoid wading into political hot water, the DPP declined to comment on the issue.
DPP legislator Wang Tuoh (
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College