Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung (沈有忠) yesterday said that the government was not surprised by a YouTuber’s recent claim that some Taiwanese working in China have obtained Chinese identification cards.
Shen declined to comment on individual cases, saying that the government has a comprehensive understanding of the situation and that the vast majority of cases would enter the judicial process.
Shen made the remarks in response to media queries for comment on claim made by Taiwanese influencer Wen Tzu-yu (溫子瑜), who said that some Taiwanese working in China have allegedly obtained Chinese identity cards.
Photo: Chung Li-hua, Taipei Times
Wen, better known as Pa Jung (八炯), recently posted a video on his YouTube channel about Chinese efforts to recruit sympathetic Taiwanese to make videos for Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. The video alleged cases involving Taiwanese who became Chinese citizens and gave up their Taiwanese household registration.
He also said intermediaries allegedly help other Taiwanese privately apply for Chinese IDs in exchange for profits of up to 6 million yuan (US$896,060).
He said he went to the National Immigration Agency to report a large number of Taiwanese who said on social media that they obtained Chinese ID cards, with some posting videos or photos displaying the documents.
Shen yesterday said the government was not surprised by the allegations of a structure in which certain channels in Taiwan help the Chinese government obtain documents or promote activities.
“We have a comprehensive understanding of the situation,” he said.
Shen said the Chinese Communist Party has been expanding and diversifying its efforts to promote integration and infiltration in Taiwan and organize various “united front” activities.
Government agencies would work closely with judicial authorities to monitor the situation, he said.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) yesterday said that according to 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 Additional Articles of the Constitution, Republic of China (中華民國憲法增修條文), citizens are not permitted to simultaneously hold Taiwan and People’s Republic of China citizenship.
If a Taiwanese citizen establishes household registration in China, the person could lose Taiwanese household registration and status, and be treated as a resident of the mainland area, Chung said.
Rights arising from the person’s status as a Taiwanese citizen could consequently also be lost, he said.
Chung urged the public to exercise caution when engaging in exchanges with China and not to be tempted or pressured by others.
If people carelessly obtain a Chinese identity card, their existing citizenship status and associated rights could be lost permanently, he added.
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