Priest Becomes "True Taiwanese" After 20 Years, Secures ID Card with Political Help

After two decades of dedicated service in Taiwan, Father Xu Jingshan, originally from Tianjin, China, has achieved his long-held dream of becoming a "true Taiwanese" by obtaining his national identification card. The 67-year-old priest, who came to Taiwan 20 years ago after serving in the United States, has been a pillar in the local communities, contributing to education and elder care.

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Thanks to everyone who was willing to help.

Father Xu's journey to residency was fraught with administrative complexities. Having obtained U.S. citizenship 23 years ago after studying theology and philosophy, he faced challenges when attempting to secure a Taiwanese ID through the "Mackay Plan" last year. A significant hurdle involved providing documentation of his Chinese birthplace, which required verification through the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF). However, due to a temporary suspension of cross-strait notarization services in his place of birth, the process stalled.

Local legislator Liu Chien-kuo and county councilor Tsai Yueh-ru played crucial roles in navigating these bureaucratic obstacles. They formally petitioned the Executive Yuan and the Presidential Office, bringing attention to Father Xu's case. The situation was further complicated by the SEF's specific requirements for notarized documents from Chinese notary offices, which did not initially recognize documents issued by local police stations.

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We have written to the Ministry to have all our NFE schools elevated to fully fledged primary schools.

Fortunately, the resumption of notarization services in China and the persistent advocacy by the Taiwanese representatives paved the way for a breakthrough. Father Xu successfully obtained the necessary documents, overcoming the final administrative hurdles. He expressed deep gratitude to everyone who assisted him, highlighting the difficulties he faced, such as needing to provide a deposit for a mobile phone plan and not being eligible for senior citizen benefits due to his lack of an ID.

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The legislator indicated a willingness to suggest to Legislator Liu that similar cases be reviewed for potential adjustments in future naturalization assessments.

Both Tsai and Liu acknowledged the administrative challenges faced by individuals seeking naturalization. Tsai indicated a willingness to suggest to Legislator Liu that similar cases be reviewed for potential adjustments in future naturalization assessments. Liu emphasized the importance of national security in the vetting process but also pledged to discuss with relevant administrative units how to address cases where individuals are unduly delayed by specific procedural issues, ensuring that those willing to integrate are not hindered.

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Our country's administrative review process is undoubtedly strict. Moving forward, while maintaining national security, I will discuss with relevant administrative units whether there are corresponding measures to allow individuals willing to naturalize not to be hindered by special reasons.