Until China-born Taiwan People's Party Legislator Li Zhenxiu’s (李貞秀) eligibility to serve in public office has been confirmed, government agencies should not provide her with any information, confidential or otherwise, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said today.
Li, who was born in China but has lived in Taiwan for more than three decades, has faced scrutiny over whether she is eligible to serve as a lawmaker.
She holds a Taiwanese passport and renounced her Chinese household registration in 1993.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
However, China declined her request to renounce her Chinese citizenship in March last year, raising questions as to whether she is eligible to serve in public office.
Under Article 20 of the Nationality Act (國籍法), people who hold other nationalities are prohibited from serving in public office.
Public officials must renounce other citizenships before taking office and complete their renunciation with documentary proof within one year of assuming office.
It is also unclear whether she could serve due to regulations under the 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).
Under the cross-strait law, Chinese nationals are only eligible to run for public office after they have become a naturalized Taiwanese citizen for at least 10 years.
Although Li submitted proof that she canceled her Chinese household registration in 1993, the Mainland Affairs Council said that the format and content of the certificate were “unusual” and it had never seen such wording before.
Therefore, the council said it would only recognize the date the certificate was submitted to the National Immigration Agency, which was in March last year.
On Tuesday, the council said the ultimate decision about whether to accept Li’s qualifications lies with the Legislative Yuan, although the administration has made its concerns clear.
Following the Cabinet meeting this morning, Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) told reporters that Cho advised lawmakers at a meeting earlier this week to exercise caution when sharing information with Li, as her qualifications are still awaiting confirmation.
Li’s case is unclear under both the Nationality Act and the cross-strait act, Cho said, advising all ministries to refrain from providing her any information, confidential or otherwise.
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