Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday refused to accept questions from Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Li Zhenxiu (李貞秀) during her first general interpellation session, saying that Li is not legally a legislator of Taiwan, as she has not renounced her Chinese citizenship and household registration.
During the session at the Legislative Yuan, Li stepped up to the podium and asked Cho, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) and Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) to come forward for questioning.
Cho motioned for Liu and Chiu to remain in place, but said he personally stepped forward out of respect for Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu’s (韓國瑜) role in maintaining order.
Photo: CNA
Li has not legally renounced her Chinese citizenship and household registration, which is inconsistent with 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) and the Nationality Act (國籍法), Cho said.
She does not meet the legal qualifications to be a legislator, he said, adding that responsibility for the situation lies with the Chinese government, not Taiwan’s government.
Li has said she filed an application with local authorities in China to renounce her People’s Republic of China (PRC) citizenship, but was rejected.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
Anyone holding Chinese nationality is subject to the constitution of the PRC and its national security laws, and is obligated to promote unification and gather intelligence for the PRC, Cho said.
Han said the Cabinet should respect the right of legislators to question Cabinet members.
Li remained at the podium alone and spoke until the end of her time without Cho or any ministers coming forward to respond to questions.
The events send a message to all immigrants that their voices and those of Chinese spouses can be suppressed, Li said.
“Are Chinese spouses second-class citizens?” she asked.
Li said she is loyal to the Republic of China, and would defend its democracy and freedoms.
Her standing at the podium is a source of pride for Taiwan’s democracy, she added.
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