Taipei: Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) lawmaker Li Zhenxiu declared her commitment to the Republic of China (ROC) despite facing challenges in officially renouncing her Chinese nationality. This announcement came after she was sworn in as a legislator-at-large at the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday.

According to Focus Taiwan, Li, originally from China, took her oath alongside five other TPP legislators-Hung Yu-hsiang, Tsai Chun-chou, Wang An-hsiang, Chiu Hui-ju, and Chen Ching-lung-under the party’s “two-year clause.” This policy requires that all TPP at-large legislators in the 11th Legislature serve only two years instead of the usual four.

Taiwan’s Nationality Act, specifically Article 20, stipulates that government positions restricted by nationality can only be held by ROC nationals. Those with dual nationality must begin the process of renouncing their foreign nationality before taking office and complete it, including submission of proof, within a year. However, complexities arise in cases like Li’s, where
Chinese law allows for nationality renunciation, but its enforcement is uncertain, particularly as Beijing does not recognize the ROC as a foreign state.

The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) has emphasized the necessity for lawmakers to adhere to these requirements within the stipulated time or face removal. The MOI has formally requested Li to renounce her People’s Republic of China (PRC) nationality and has sent her the necessary application form. They also asked her to provide evidence of filing such an application.

Li shared with reporters that her attempts to renounce her Chinese citizenship were thwarted by public security bureaus in Hunan Province’s Hengnan County and Hengyang City, as well as at the municipal level. She emphasized that no naturalized Chinese spouse has managed to meet Taiwan’s legal requirements for such renunciation, a fact also acknowledged by the Mainland Affairs Council. Li intends to submit documentation proving the rejection of her application by Chinese authorities in hopes tha
t the MOI can address the situation.

Reaffirming her allegiance, Li stated her love for Taiwan and identification with the ROC. After receiving her election certificate from the Central Election Commission (CEC) on Monday and taking her oath on Tuesday, she pledged loyalty exclusively to the ROC. Li highlighted her long residency in Taiwan, where she has lived for over three decades, and noted that her five children are Taiwanese. She also mentioned never having held a PRC passport.

In a related development, Minister without Portfolio Chen Chin-te suggested that the CEC should revoke Li’s election certificate if she cannot demonstrate exclusive ROC nationality. He urged the CEC and MOI to reassess current regulations and consider how to manage similar cases in the future, including the documentation required before election certificates are issued.