Siraya Becomes Taiwan's First Pingpu Indigenous Group to Gain Legal Status
Premier Cho Jung-tai officially announced the Siraya people as a legally protected Indigenous group. This landmark decision marks the very first time a Pingpu Plains Indigenous group, which has historically assimilated into Han-Chinese cultures, has secured state recognition. Following a pivotal 2022 Constitutional Court ruling that deemed their exclusion unconstitutional, the Cabinet has approved the group's identity criteria, allowing thousands of descendants across southern Taiwan to formally register their status starting mid-August.
Siraya Becomes First Plains Group with Legal Status
REPORTER:
Taiwan has officially recognized a pingpu plains indigenous group for the first time. Premier Cho Jung-tai made the big announcement at a Taipei ceremony to Siraya people in attendance.
Cho Jung-tai (PREMIER):
I've officially announced in the Cabinet meeting that Siraya is a legally recognized Indigenous group in Taiwan. (Let’s welcome Siraya back home!)
REPORTER:
Siraya is the largest plains group in southern Taiwan and has historically assimilated into Han-Chinese and Japanese communities. The group has been working to revive its language and fought for legal recognition for the past two decades. After the top court ruled its exclusion from Taiwanese laws unconstitutional in 2022, a separate law now allows each pingpu plains group to determine who qualifies as a member of its group. The Cabinet has now approved Siraya's identity rules.
Siraya Culture Association Representative:
Siraya Culture Association has held public hearings and reached a strong consensus with our people with a unanimous approval. We know that there are over 400 legal provisions from 100-200 laws concerning Indigenous peoples. So far, only amendments to three laws have been passed. [We hope] to revise the laws thoroughly and make sure they reflect our due rights.
REPORTER:
The council of indigenous peoples says the Siraya people will be able to register for legal status starting in mid-August.
