Chinese Immigrants in Taiwan Face Legal Status Changes Due to Household Registration Issues

A recent report from Taipei Times highlights that 1,668 Chinese immigrants residing in Taiwan missed the deadline to submit proof of renouncing their Chinese household registration. The National Immigration Agency (NIA) has indicated that these individuals risk having their legal status reduced from 'registered permanent resident' to 'resident' if it is confirmed that they continue to hold household registration in China.

The NIA had previously informed the Chinese immigrants of the necessity to provide documentation of deregistration by last Monday, but many were unreachable or did not comply. According to a government source with knowledge of national security, many of those who failed to respond may be living abroad, including some individuals without household registration who have not returned to Taiwan in over two years, and potentially others still in China.

For those who are currently in Taiwan or have close familial ties or employment within the country, retaining their Chinese citizenship could lead to a revocation of their 'registered permanent resident' status. The source indicated that this issue raises significant national security concerns as dual registrants create ambiguity regarding their national loyalty, complicating security evaluations.

Reports from the Mainland Affairs Council have identified various cases of Chinese immigrants who have maintained dual nationality, prompting comparisons to Russia's tactics in Crimea, where citizenship grants were leveraged in territorial claims. Additionally, in Fujian Province, the Taiwan Affairs Office has been allowing Taiwanese residents to acquire Chinese ID cards without canceling their Taiwanese identification, which is viewed by officials as an attempt to undermine Taiwanese identity.

Legally, the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area prohibits dual household registration. Individuals possessing dual citizenship may also unlawfully benefit from pensions and services provided by both governments. Central Police University professor Wang Chih-sheng warned that such individuals face potential identity crises and could be exploited by the Chinese Communist Party for political ends.