The Taiwan government, following the first wave of checks on military and civil servants for possession of mainland Chinese identity cards, settlement permits, and residency permits, is set to launch the second wave of inspections targeting public officials and teachers in public schools.
According to the Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council on the 24th, the specialized checks on current military and civil servants to determine their mainland Chinese status have been highly successful, with a completion rate of 99.87% among the 371,203 individuals checked. The focus was on core personnel in various key administrative agencies, defense ministry units, and administrative staff in 209 public schools nationwide.
Deputy Minister of the Taiwan Ministry of the Interior, Ma Shi-yuan, appeared before the Legislative Yuan’s Judiciary and Legal Affairs Committee this morning and confirmed the upcoming second wave of checks, specifically mentioning public officials and teachers in public schools as the targets.
Moreover, the Taiwan Ministry of the Interior’s Immigration Department has approved settlement for over 140,000 mainland Chinese spouses in Taiwan. However, some individuals have not submitted the required proof of renouncing their original household registration. The Immigration Department has advised around 12,000 former mainland residents residing in Taiwan to submit the necessary documentation by the June 30 deadline to avoid revocation of their settlement permits and cancellation of household registrations by local household registration offices. As of the 22nd, 3,864 cases have been processed through written document verification.
Regarding the progress of the first wave of checks, Ma Shi-yuan stated that documents are still being processed, with over 8,000 individuals awaiting responses. Many are undergoing document verification at the Straits Exchange Foundation, and some are currently traveling. The Ministry of the Interior will assist citizens in completing the necessary procedures promptly. Ma noted that the final figures on those who have not applied for renouncement of their original registration will only be known once all documents are received.
If individuals have not applied as required, Ma assured that proper legal procedures will be followed. When asked about plans to extend the application period, Ma mentioned that there are currently no such plans. However, the government will provide special assistance to individuals facing difficulties in obtaining the required documents.
The Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council stated on the 21st that the majority of former mainland residents are willing to comply with legal requirements. For cases facing practical difficulties, the government has been accepting applications for over a month and has observed a significant alleviation of public concerns. Service stations across the country have been receiving relinquished mainland household registration documents from the public.
The Council also highlighted plans to hold information sessions in several counties and cities in Taiwan to assist each case individually and ensure that individuals have complete rights and identities in Taiwan for a peaceful and prosperous life.
Additionally, amid reports circulating online about Taiwanese artist Nana Ou-yang repeatedly sharing content from official Chinese media promoting reunification efforts with Taiwan at specific moments, her citizenship status has been revoked. Ma clarified that Nana Ou-yang is a national with a Republic of China (Taiwan) identification card and has not been found to hold Chinese nationality; hence her national identity card will not be canceled.
Responding to misinformation circulating on social media regarding the Taiwan government allegedly canceling Nana Ou-yang’s citizenship, the Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council emphasized the false nature of the claims and urged the public not to believe or spread such misleading information that aims to undermine trust in the government and stir up internal tensions in Taiwanese society.
The Council emphasized that Taiwan artists collaborating with the Chinese government to undermine the sovereignty of Taiwan or advocate for coercive reunification have crossed a red line in Taiwanese society. Measures will be taken in accordance with relevant regulations by the responsible authorities to address these actions. The government aims to provide reasons for mainland-based artists to resist political coercion from China, enabling them to say “no” and have greater freedom of expression. Artists are encouraged to consider public perceptions in Taiwan and cherish the hard-won democracy and freedom in Taiwan, avoiding personal gains that harm national sovereignty and people’s security.