Taiwan Seeks to Strengthen National Security by Tightening Public Office Eligibility

The Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan has proposed a bill requiring Chinese nationals to renounce their PRC citizenship to hold public office. The legislation aims to bolster national security and prevent Chinese infiltration. Similar regulations could apply to residents from Hong Kong and Macau.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators in Taiwan have introduced a new bill focusing on the eligibility of Chinese nationals for public office roles in Taiwan, according to local media reports. The proposed amendment mandates that Chinese citizens provide evidence of renouncing their People's Republic of China (PRC) citizenship if they wish to serve within Taiwan's government, military, or other public institutions, as reported by the Taipei Times.

The lawmakers behind the bill, including Puma Shen, Wang Ting-yu, and Michelle Lin, stress that this measure is designed to enhance Taiwan's national security by curbing potential infiltration by operatives from China. Presently, Article 20 of Taiwan's Nationality Act stipulates that candidates for public office must exclusively hold Republic of China (ROC) citizenship. Despite requirements for Chinese nationals to reside in Taiwan for over a decade to qualify for specific public roles, an explicit rule compelling them to relinquish their PRC nationality does not exist.

Legislators argue that this loophole weakens the act's stance against dual nationality and poses a security threat, the Taipei Times noted. The proposed changes will require Chinese nationals to give up their PRC citizenship to assume public office, organize political parties, or serve in military and intelligence capacities in Taiwan. Similar amendments are suggested for citizens from Hong Kong and Macau, who would need to meet residency requirements and demonstrate their renunciation of original citizenship before pursuing roles in these sectors.

(With inputs from agencies.)