TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Military personnel, teachers, and civil servants will only face checks on whether they hold Chinese identity or residency documents when they change their position, the Mainland Affairs Council said Saturday.

The government department denied reports that employees would be subjected to a review once every six months, per CNA. Only new employees or those who change functions will be asked to provide a statement that they do not hold Chinese identity or residency documents according to the new system taking effect Jan. 1.

The banned documents included household registration, passports, identity cards, and residency permits. Holding any of the documents would be reason to revoke Taiwanese citizenship, leading automatically to losing the right to serve in the military or to work for the government or in the education sector.

Certifying the absence of dual nationality is a basic condition to work in a government department, the council said. Employees who passed a review before June 30 do not need to undergo further checks next year unless they move to a different position within the same organization or to another organization.

Each employer will have to collect information about its employees before May 31 and Nov. 30 each year. Of more than 626,000 people screened this year, only two were found to hold Chinese identity documents, but they completed the procedure to give them up. The 102 individuals holding Chinese residency certificates did the same, the council said.