Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Li Zhenxiu (李貞秀) today said her application to renounce her Chinese citizenship was not accepted by her hometown authorities, while emphasizing that she is loyal to the Republic of China (Taiwan) and its Constitution as she was sworn in.
Due to the TPP’s two-year legislator-at-large clause, six of its legislators, Lin Kuo-cheng (林國成), Lin Yi-chun (林憶君), Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷), Jenny Maiyu (麥玉珍), Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) and party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) resigned on Sunday last week.
Their spots were filled by Hung Yu-hsiang (洪毓祥), Tsai Chun-chou (蔡春綢), Wang An-hsiang (王安祥), Chiu hui-ji (邱慧洳), Jacky Chen (陳清龍) and Li, who were all sworn into office today.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Speaking to reporters after being sworn in, Li, who was born in China and has lived in Taiwan for more than three decades, said she loves Taiwan and the Republic of China and swore a loath of loyalty to the nation in front of the grand justices today.
The Central Election Commission issued her certificate of election yesterday, she added.
Li flew back to her birthplace in Hunan, China, to apply to renounce her Chinese nationality, but her application was not approved, she said.
As the Mainland Affairs Council has said, no Chinese spouse has successfully renounced their Chinese citizenship because of their Taiwanese identity, Li said.
She used her Taiwanese passport and Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents throughout her journey, she added.
Prior to taking office, legislators-elect must comply with Article 20 of the Nationality Act (國籍法), which prohibits people holding dual nationality from serving in public office, the Ministry of the Interior said previously.
Those who hold foreign citizenship and are to assume the position of legislator must renounce it before taking office and, within a year of assuming office, complete their renunciation of foreign citizenship and submit documentary proof, the ministry said.
Li said that she would forward the document rejecting her application to renounce her Chinese citizenship to the Ministry of the Interior, showing that renouncing Chinese citizenship is not so simple.
Even though she was not born in Taiwan, she has lived here for more than 30 years, longer than her time living in China, and her five children are all Taiwanese, Li said.
She has never used a Chinese passport; her only passport is Taiwanese, she said, emphasizing her love for Taiwan and determination to protect it.
The BBC recently reported that Li had applied to divorce her husband.
The divorce would not affect her Taiwanese identity, as she already has settled status, an informed official said.
Additional reporting by Chen Yu-fu and Chen Chih-cheng
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