The Ministry of the Interior on Tuesday approved the applications of 18 foreign professionals to become Republic of China citizens, including radio and TV announcer Jeffrey Mindich.
They are among 50 foreign professionals in six fields — including science and technology, education and economics — to have been granted citizenship after five rounds of screenings, the ministry said in a statement.
Under the Nationality Act (國籍法) certain categories of foreigners seeking citizenship are not required to renounce their original nationalities, and are eligible to participate in part of Taiwan’s political process and various welfare benefits once they have earned citizenship.
Taiwan welcomes foreigners highly skilled in sports, arts and culture, and other areas such as religion, democracy and human rights, to become naturalized citizens.
Department of Household Registration Affairs Director Wanda Chang (張琬宜) said she hopes more foreign professionals will apply for citizenship.
Mindich, who worked for International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT) for many years, won a Golden Bell for his achievements in introducing Taiwanese culture to foreign audiences.
Others include a Thai woman who helps select tour guides, an Australian man in the wireless telecommunication industry and an Indonesian whose language ability in Chinese, English and Indonesian makes him an important contributor to the government’s New Southbound Policy, the ministry said.
Also on the list are a German professor, whose works on philosopher Immanuel Kant have been translated into Chinese and Korean, a South African artist who has helped with arts education, and an American who is a senior editor and publisher.
Those interested in becoming citizens can visit the ministry’s Web site (www.ris.gov.tw/763) to learn more.
LOW RISK: Most nations do not extradite people accused of political crimes, and the UN says extradition can only happen if the act is a crime in both countries, an official said China yesterday issued wanted notices for two Taiwanese influencers, accusing them of committing “separatist acts” by criticizing Beijing, amid broadening concerns over China’s state-directed transnational repression. The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in a notice posted online said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to the investigation or apprehension of pro-Taiwanese independence YouTuber Wen Tzu-yu (溫子渝),who is known as Pa Chiung (八炯) online, and rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源). Wen and Chen are suspected of spreading content that supported secession from China, slandered Chinese policies that benefit Taiwanese and discrimination against Chinese spouses of
PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms
The Tainan District Court has found a teenager guilty of posting a sexually explicit video of his girlfriend on social media without consent. The court ruled his parents were legally responsible for the boy’s actions, and ordered NT$500,000 (US$16,051) to be paid in compensation to the victim. The incident took place in December last year, when the boy and his girlfriend, both under 18 and legally minors at the time of the incident, were in a relationship. The boy asked her to send him explicit videos, according to a court filing. A month later, he posted the video on social media, with its visibility
RSS