The Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of China implemented amendments to the “Naturalization of Nationals of Our Country and Service Regulations for Returned Overseas Compatriots” on September 8, sparking lively discussions among overseas compatriots. The new regulations require overseas compatriots of military service age to apply for a “Identification Certificate for Overseas Chinese for Military Service” before exiting the country, replacing the long-standing practice of “overseas residence endorsement on passports.” It also specifies that overseas compatriots of military service age who reside in Taiwan for more than 183 days must comply with conscription laws.
Communities in Southern California have started discussions on the new regulations, with many compatriots expressing grievances over the lack of a transition period for the new system. The complicated procedures, lengthy cross-agency approvals, and the discontinuation of entry and exit stamps by various countries have made it difficult for compatriots to provide relevant documentation. This has resulted in short-term visitors to Taiwan having to go through additional bureaucratic hurdles, which seems like a punishment for returning to their homeland.
Wu Zhao-feng, a political affairs adviser to the Executive Yuan, stated that the Ministry of the Interior’s actions aim to enforce fair conscription principles and prevent individuals from evading military service through investments or short-term residency. However, he acknowledged that currently, the application can only be processed at the Overseas Compatriot Commission service counter in Taipei, a process that takes about two days, and the certificate is valid for only one year, which has indeed caused dissatisfaction among compatriots.
Wu Zhao-feng suggested that relevant authorities should share information to avoid compatriots repeatedly providing documents. He also recommended considering establishing a transition period or more flexible support measures to alleviate the burden on compatriots visiting Taiwan or staying temporarily.
Many parents and grandparents of military service age compatriots in Southern California have urged the government to streamline the procedures and allow overseas offices to accept applications to reduce the time and effort compatriots have to spend on processing documents upon their return to Taiwan. They also called for measures to prevent compatriots from being forced to give up Taiwanese nationality due to policies. Some criticism has pointed out that the government’s slogan of “listening to voices” has not been implemented, leading to a loss of identification with Taiwan among the overseas compatriot community.
In response, Tsai Chia-ching, the Chairperson of the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission, publicly stated that the commission had collected opinions through colleagues in overseas compatriot affairs during the legislative process and respected the Ministry of the Interior’s efforts to amend regulations. The purpose of the amendments, she emphasized, is to maintain fairness in military service while balancing the rights and obligations of compatriots.
The commission further clarified that the new regulations only standardize the identification of military service status for conscripts. The requirements for applying for the existing “overseas residence endorsement on passports” and the new “Identification Certificate for Overseas Chinese for Military Service” are the same, with consistent validity, differing only in duration, and pre-existing rights have not been compromised. The commission has also set up a dedicated section on its official website for the “Identification Certificate for Overseas Chinese for Military Service” for compatriots to access information promptly. The Overseas Compatriot Centers will continue to promote and gather relevant opinions from overseas and welcome compatriots to provide feedback on any suggestions or ideas they may have.