TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Hualien County Government has overturned a directive from the Ministry of Interior that removed a Chinese spouse from her elected position as a village chief.

Deng Wan-hua (鄧萬華) was removed from office as head of Xuetian Village in Hualien’s Fuli Township after she was unable to prove that she had renounced her Chinese citizenship. This month, Hualien County Government reviewed Deng's appeal and determined that due process was not upheld in her removal from office, UDN reported.

Deng is the first case in Taiwan’s history of a public official removed from office by government directive for holding Chinese household registration. Deng has been married to her Taiwanese husband for 28 years, and obtained a Taiwan passport 17 years ago, per UDN.

Elected as village chief in 2022, Deng was in the third year of her four-year term, when she was stripped of her office on Aug. 1. After reviewing her appeal and finding that the matter was not handled appropriately, Hualien County forwarded the matter to the township level.

The Mayor of Fuli Township, Chiang Tung-cheng (江東成) expressed reservations when the Ministry of Interior instructed him to remove Deng from office last summer. Chiang also supported Deng in her decision to appeal the decision at the county level.

According to Taiwan’s Nationality Act, Taiwanese citizens who hold or obtain citizenship in foreign countries may not hold public office. However, Deng’s case raises questions regarding the naturalization of Chinese citizens as Taiwanese, and may also set a precedent for cases of removing elected officials who hold dual nationality.

Chiang said that after receiving notice from the county government, the township will review the matter. If the township determines Deng’s rights were violated and due process denied, then she may be permitted to return to office for the remainder of her term.