Taiwan election body's 10-year rule for mainland Chinese candidates sparks criticism

Taiwan's Central Election Commission has stipulated that individuals of mainland Chinese origin must have officially renounced their citizenship for a full decade before being eligible to run for public office. This new guideline emerged following a contentious situation involving a legislator with mainland Chinese origins, who was subsequently expelled from her political party.

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requires individuals of mainland Chinese origin to have renounced their citizenship for 10 years before they can run for public office

The commission announced that when individuals from mainland China apply to register as candidates, local election committees will collaborate with household registration offices to verify if candidates have submitted proof of renouncing their original citizenship. Only after submitting this proof and completing the 10-year waiting period can they be registered as candidates for public office. The commission's chairman, Yu Ying-lung, emphasized that this is an administrative procedure without political considerations.

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This is an administrative procedure without political considerations.

However, the regulation has drawn sharp criticism from Huang Kuo-chang, chairman of Taiwan's People Party. During a policy forum, Huang questioned the timing and interpretation of the rule, suggesting it represents a distortion of legal interpretation influenced by the ruling party's preferences. He pointed to the previous administration under President Tsai Ing-wen, stating that during her tenure, there were no such legally unfounded restrictions on mainland Chinese individuals participating in politics, nor was there ideological manipulation.

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criticized the regulation, calling it a distortion of legal interpretation influenced by the ruling party's preferences.

Huang expressed strong disapproval of the perceived shift in legal interpretation under the current administration led by President Lai Ching-te. He questioned why there is a 180-degree difference in how the law is interpreted and applied compared to the Tsai Ing-wen era. Huang stressed the importance of legal application being universal, stable, and consistent, arguing that it should not be arbitrarily distorted based on the personal preferences of those in power.

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Taiwan is a country governed by the rule of law, and the interpretation and application of laws must be consistent.