Taiwanese Sailor Retains Citizenship Amid Cross-Strait Identity Controversy

A Taiwanese navy sailor, whose mother registered him for a Chinese ID without his consent, will keep his Taiwanese citizenship, the Mainland Affairs Council announced. Despite having a Chinese ID, the sailor sought to annul his Chinese household registration, ensuring his Taiwanese nationality under special exemptions.

A sailor in Taiwan's navy, identified as Yang, will maintain his Taiwanese citizenship despite his mother's previous registration of him for a Chinese ID card, announced the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday. The incident was first reported by the Taipei Times.

Yang, who serves in the 168th Fleet, had his Chinese ID card applied for a decade ago by his mother, a Chinese national, when he was a child. Yang, however, never pursued Chinese citizenship actively, according to the MAC. On Wednesday, he requested Chinese authorities to annul his household registration.

The government confirmed he won't need to travel to China due to restrictions on military personnel's travels for national security reasons. After careful review with relevant ministries, Yang's efforts to renounce his Chinese citizenship were deemed sufficient, allowing him to retain Taiwanese nationality under Article 9-1 of the relevant Act.

Ordinarily, acquiring Chinese nationality results in the loss of Taiwanese citizenship, with further restrictions on voting and service in military and public roles. The MAC issued a warning that those acquiring Chinese citizenship deliberately will face legal repercussions.

MAC officials and military authorities are aware of the public scrutiny on Yang's case and have pledged support and oversight for his career development. According to MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh, similar cases are common, especially among businesspeople's children. Between 2014 and 2023, 676 individuals lost their nationality due to possessing Chinese IDs.

Although China and Taiwan have upheld separate citizenship laws for 30 years, certain regions in China have issued IDs without requiring Taiwanese documents. Past cases like Lee Tung-hsien and Su Shih-en faced citizenship loss for dual nationality. The MAC urged China to adhere to international norms regarding citizenship policies.

(With inputs from agencies.)