Politics

China-Born TPP Lawmaker Prepares To Take Office Amid Citizenship Questions

Published

By Eason Chen/Tiffany Wong

Open in App

Li Zhenxiu of the Taiwan People's Party is set to become the first China-born lawmaker in the country. Married to a Taiwanese, she moved to Taiwan over 30 years ago and holds residency there. But her nationality and hence her eligibility to hold office has remained a subject of debate among political opponents and members of the public.

REPORTER:  

Li Zhenxiu is set to make history as the first China-born lawmaker in Taiwan when she assumes office on Tuesday. She is among six Taiwan People’s Party members waiting to be sworn in, after their predecessors left office over the weekend to honor the party’s two-year term limit for legislators-at-large. But one major hurdle for Li is her Chinese citizenship, something she is required to give up. The TPP says Li will clarify her status when she takes the oath of office.

 

Chen Chih-han (TPP CAUCUS DIRECTOR):  

If the Central Election Committee determined that Li Zhenxiu is qualified to run for office, why does the interior ministry say she isn't eligible? She has already followed Taiwan’s laws and applied to renounce her Chinese citizenship.

 

REPORTER:  

The controversy stems from a legal discrepancy between two laws. According to the Cross-Strait Act, China-born residents are qualified to run for election 10 years after moving their household registration from China to Taiwan. But under the Nationality Act, elected officials must apply to give up any foreign citizenship before taking office, and provide proof within one year of taking office.

 

REPORTER:  

Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party say allowing a China-born resident to serve in the legislature could pose national security risks, as they would have access to classified information. They urge Li to prove that she’s applied to give up her Chinese citizenship.

 

Wu Si-yao (LAWMAKER, DPP):  

It takes 30 seconds to search and print out the application form for renouncing People’s Republic of China citizenship. It only takes 30 seconds. Why hasn't our future legislator Li Zhenxiu done it?

 

REPORTER:  

But whether Li can successfully renounce her Chinese citizenship remains uncertain. No China-born residents in Taiwan have managed to do so, as China does not recognize Taiwan as a separate country, so doesn’t readily provide the documents needed. Just last year, a China-born village chief was removed from office a year after being elected, because she could not prove she had renounced her Chinese citizenship. It’s a controversial topic, one that has sparked heated debate across Taiwan.

 

Taipei Residents:  

If she’s a Republic of China [Taiwan] citizen then it’s no problem.

(What if she also holds some Chinese [documents] at the same time?)

Then it’s our problem. When she obtained ROC citizenship, why did we also let her have dual citizenship?

This is our problem. From a Taiwanese person’s perspective, it's a little strange because she’s obviously not Taiwanese.

 

REPORTER:  

But Li’s status is not for the people to decide and when she takes office on Tuesday, the parties and the interior ministry will be watching closely to see what proof she has to show as she sets out to make history.