Wed, Jun 05, 2002 page1

• TSU passport proposal gets tepid support

  QUESTION OF LOYALTY The tiny party yesterday proposed making it unlawful for Taiwanese to hold Taiwan and PRC passports concurrently

  • By Crystal Hsu / STAFF REPORTER
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  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 (程振隆) told reporters.

  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 (劉德勳), another MAC vice chairman, told reporters that the fact that people are allowed to claim residency on both sides has contributed to a variety of legal frays over the years.

  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 (林益世) said it is only reasonable for a country to demand loyalty from its citizens.

  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 (王拓) said he and his fellow colleagues would not seek PRC nationality but considered it premature to pass judgment.
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