TAIPEI (Taiwan News)—The Ministry of Interior announced on Thursday that it revoked the household registration of 19 Taiwanese nationals after they were found to have obtained Chinese ID cards.
The ministry addressed public concerns about Chinese spouses and Taiwanese nationals' involvement with Chinese identity documents and controversial comments at a press conference, per Tai Sounds. Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said that around 30 individuals who frequently travel between Taiwan and China have been placed under investigation.
The MOI's Household Registration Department Director Chen Yung-chih (陳永智) explained that, after being reported by the National Immigration Agency, household registration offices have so far revoked the household registration of 19 of the 30 nationals. Chen said the reason for the revocation was their possession of identification documents issued by China, contravening current nationality and household registration regulations.
In addition, some Chinese nationals who have settled in Taiwan have recently received notices requiring them to submit a “certificate of loss of original nationality ” document, or risk losing their household registration. NIA acting director Lin Hung-en (林宏恩) said the Mainland Affairs Council has announced six conditions under which this proof may be replaced with a sworn declaration, and three additional ways to apply for an extension.
Starting April 21, all NIA service centers across Taiwan will begin accepting these supplementary applications.
According to Immigration Agency statistics, approximately 12,000 Chinese spouses in Taiwan have yet to present proof that they renounced their household registration in China. About 5,000 are expected to qualify for the sworn declaration or extension mechanisms.
As for public concerns over whether military personnel, civil servants, or educators hold Chinese documents, the MOI has also initiated a review. Liu said the review is now 99% complete, and it has been confirmed that none of the currently employed personnel in these sectors hold Chinese nationality or documents.
All newly appointed public servants must sign a sworn declaration saying they do not hold Chinese nationality.
The three Chinese spouses whose residence permits were previously revoked were identified as social media influencers: "Yaya" Liu Zhenya (劉振亞), "Enqi" Zhang Yan (張燕), and "Xiaowei" Chao Chan (趙嬋). All three were found to have made statements on social media platforms promoting a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, prompting the NIA to launch investigations and revoke their residency in Taiwan.
