Ed Castro
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) has announced plans to strengthen regulations for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, nor possess any other foreign citizenship. This announcement was made through a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, released on Thursday.
According to the proposed rules, candidates must submit the declaration when registering, and their statements will be published in the official election bulletin. The move comes in response to recent cases involving politicians with Chinese nationality, some of whom have been removed from office.
The MOI cited Article 20 of the Nationality Act, which prohibits Taiwanese individuals holding foreign nationality from serving as elected officials. Such officials are required to renounce their foreign citizenship before taking office and must provide proof of renunciation within one year of their inauguration.
Additionally, under the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, individuals with household registration or passports issued by Mainland China lose their Taiwanese nationality and civil rights. Possessing a Chinese household registration entails holding a Chinese national ID card or China-issued residence permit.
This regulatory move aims to ensure the integrity of elected officials and prevent conflicts of allegiance, reinforcing Taiwan’s stance on sovereignty and national security.
