Taipei: The Ministry of Interior (MOI) has announced plans to enforce new regulations requiring candidates running for public office to declare their nationality status. Candidates must confirm they do not hold household registration or a passport from China and do not possess citizenship of any other nation.

According to Focus Taiwan, the requirement is outlined in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, released by the MOI. This measure mandates that candidates make their declarations upon submitting registration forms, with the stated citizenship status published in the official election bulletin.

This initiative comes in the wake of recent incidents where officials were removed from office for holding People's Republic of China nationality. The MOI highlighted that Article 20 of the Nationality Act stipulates that Republic of China (Taiwan) nationals with foreign nationality are prohibited from serving as elected officials. Those affected are required to renounce their foreign nationality before taking office and must furnish proof of renunciation within one year.

Furthermore, Article 9 of the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area specifies that individuals from the Taiwan Area are prohibited from holding household registration in the Mainland Area or possessing Mainland-issued passports. Failure to comply results in the loss of Taiwanese status and civil rights. The ministry clarified that household registration in the mainland is defined by possession of a Chinese ID card or resident permit issued by China.