Taipei: Defense Minister Wellington Koo has clarified that Taiwanese citizens who possess Chinese nationality are still obligated to complete the one-year mandatory military service. This statement comes amid a recent controversy involving a Navy serviceman.

According to Focus Taiwan, Koo made these remarks while speaking to reporters before a legislative hearing. He addressed concerns about preventing military personnel with Chinese nationality from potentially engaging in treasonous acts. Koo assured that such individuals would undergo evaluation and scrutiny, and their roles would exclude access to classified information. This measure, he stated, should effectively prevent any treasonous actions.

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) referenced Article 9-1 of the Act Governing Relations Between the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area when asked to clarify Koo's comments. This law mandates that individuals whose Taiwanese nationality and civil rights are revoked due to holding a Chinese passport or household registration must still fulfill their responsibilities as Taiwanese citizens.

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) explained in a statement that the rule is intended to prevent draftees with Chinese documentation from using their Chinese identity to avoid conscription in Taiwan. The current controversy arose when a Navy serviceman, surnamed Yang, was found in an Investigation Bureau probe to have held Chinese citizenship for a decade.

Yang's case gained attention when it was revealed that his mother had applied for Chinese citizenship on his behalf without his knowledge. Upon discovering this, Yang had already volunteered for military service. The MND assisted Yang in filing a request with the National Immigration Agency to retain his ROC citizenship, which was granted as a "special case."

The MAC, overseeing cross-Taiwan Strait affairs, confirmed that Yang was permitted to keep his Taiwanese citizenship after special consideration. It is important to note that Taiwan's government does not allow the revocation of nationality for draftees. Yang had completed his compulsory service before volunteering.

Since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, both the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China claim sovereignty over China, rejecting each other's claims. Chinese law requires citizens to renounce their citizenship upon naturalization by another country, which does not apply to Taiwan. Similarly, Taiwan does not recognize Chinese citizenship, and possessing a Chinese passport or household registration could lead to revocation of ROC citizenship.