Taiwan would soon unveil new rules banning Taiwanese residents of China from reclaiming their citizenship if they participated in Beijing’s propaganda activities, the Ministry of the Interior said on Monday.
The measures were drafted following President William Lai’s (賴清德) March 13 directive that the government counter China’s espionage and influence campaigns aimed at undermining Taiwan’s sovereignty, the ministry said in a preview of the rules.
The changes would affect Taiwanese who lost their citizenship after becoming permanent residents of China or obtaining passports issued by China, it said.
Photo: Reuters
Under the measures, former Taiwanese nationals living in China who had made statements denying the nation’s sovereignty or right to exist, committed acts of espionage, or betrayed national security secrets or critical intellectual properties could be stripped of their right to reclaim citizenship, it said.
The ban would apply to those who represented Chinese commercial entities illegally operating in Taiwan, contravened rules governing movements across national borders, sabotaged critical infrastructure or fomented social unrest, it said.
The proposed rules would allow former Taiwanese nationals living in China to reclaim their citizenship only if they have made a significant contribution to Taiwan’s military defense, global image or social stability, it said.
Some Taiwanese residing in China might be allowed to reclaim their citizenship based on humanitarian concerns, the ministry said.
People eligible for the exemption include those who emigrated to China as children by the act of their legal guardians, have close familial ties in Taiwan or are in poor health, it said.
Reclaiming Taiwanese citizenship requires applicants to renounce their residency in China or surrender their Chinese passport with certifications issued by an appropriate authority, it said.
Adult applicants seeking to reclaim citizenship must also provide documentation certified by a Taiwanese representative office showing that they did not commit a serious criminal offense abroad.
Those who invoke humanitarian concerns must prove their claims by presenting documentation or other evidence, the ministry said.
The National Immigration Agency would be responsible of approving requests for restoring Taiwanese citizenship in collaboration with other government entities, it said.
Chinese nationals who previously had Taiwanese citizenship and then returned to China would not be affected by the new measures, it said.
Separately, the Ministry of Culture has launched two investigations into Taiwanese celebrities and influencers suspected of spreading pro-China propaganda on Beijing’s behalf, an official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Last year, about 20 celebrities, including high-profile musician and performer Ouyang Nana (歐陽娜娜), shared a social media post of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) that read: “Taiwan has been a part of China since ancient times and there is only one China.”
At the time, the PLA was conducting its “Joint Sword-2024B” military exercises around Taiwan.
In March, Ouyang again joined influencers and celebrities in reposting a comment by Beijing-run China Central Television saying that Taiwan’s unification with China is “inevitable.”
The investigations center on whether the celebrities had collaborated with Chinese officials, and whether they voluntarily reposted the comments or were pressured by their agents or managers, the official said.
Conducting political activities in cooperation with Chinese officials is punishable by a fine of NT$100,000 to NT$500,000 under the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), they said.
Most celebrities under investigation had responded in writing to renounce knowledge of the posts, deny agreement with the content or plead that they were ignorant of the law, the official said.
FIREPOWER: On top of the torpedoes, the military would procure Kestrel II anti-tank weapons systems to replace aging license-produced M72 LAW launchers Taiwan is to receive US-made Mark 48 torpedoes and training simulators over the next three years, following delays that hampered the navy’s operational readiness, the Ministry of National Defense’s latest budget proposal showed. The navy next year would acquire four training simulator systems for the torpedoes and take receipt of 14 torpedoes in 2027 and 10 torpedoes in 2028, the ministry said in its budget for the next fiscal year. The torpedoes would almost certainly be utilized in the navy’s two upgraded Chien Lung-class submarines and the indigenously developed Hai Kun, should the attack sub successfully reach operational status. US President Donald Trump
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) is expected to start construction of its 1.4-nanometer chip manufacturing facilities at the Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP, 中部科學園區) as early as October, the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported yesterday, citing the park administration. TSMC acquired land for the second phase of the park’s expansion in Taichung in June. Large cement, construction and facility engineering companies in central Taiwan have reportedly been receiving bids for TSMC-related projects, the report said. Supply-chain firms estimated that the business opportunities for engineering, equipment and materials supply, and back-end packaging and testing could reach as high as
ALL QUIET: The Philippine foreign secretary told senators she would not respond to questions about whether Lin Chia-lung was in the country The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday confirmed that a business delegation is visiting the Philippines, but declined to say whether Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is part of the group, as Philippine lawmakers raised questions over Lin’s reported visit. The group is being led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Huang Chao-chin (黃昭欽), Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA) chairman Joseph Lyu (呂桔誠) and US-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) vice president Lotta Danielsson, the ministry said in a statement. However, sources speaking on condition of anonymity said that Lin is leading the delegation of 70 people. Filinvest New Clark City Innovation Park
DEFENSIVE EDGE: The liaison officer would work with Taiwan on drones and military applications for other civilian-developed technologies, a source said A Pentagon unit tasked with facilitating the US military’s adoption of new technology is soon to deploy officials to dozens of friendly nations, including Taiwan, the Financial Times reported yesterday. The US Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is to send a representative to collaborate with Taiwan on drones and military applications from the semiconductor industry by the end of the year, the British daily reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. “Drones will certainly be a focus, but they will also be looking at connecting to the broader civilian and dual-use ecosystem, including the tech sector,” one source was
RSS