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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

Taiwanese KMT lawmakers propose allowing Chinese citizens to run for office, sparking national security fears

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Kuomintang (KMT) legislators proposed amending the Nationality Act to allow Chinese citizens who have not renounced their Chinese nationality to run for public office in Taiwan.
  • Critics, including Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, condemned the proposal, calling it a "blatant plot" to pave the way for China's annexation of Taiwan.
  • The proposed amendment would permit individuals with Chinese household registration to be eligible for Taiwanese public office, raising concerns about national security and Taiwan's democratic system.

A controversial proposal by 16 Kuomintang (KMT) legislators to amend Taiwan's Nationality Act has ignited fierce debate, with critics accusing the party of undermining national security and aiding China's unification ambitions. The amendment seeks to allow Chinese citizens who have not renounced their foreign nationality to be eligible for public office in Taiwan.

This is no longer a Trojan horse conspiracy, this is a blatant plot to pave the way for the CCP to annex Taiwan.

— Wang Ting-yuTaiwanese legislator Wang Ting-yu's strong criticism of the proposed amendment.

KMT legislators, including Fu Kun-chi, Su Ching-chuan, and Johnny Chiang, introduced the bill to revise Article 20 of the Nationality Act. The proposed change would exempt Chinese nationals with Taiwanese household registration from the requirement to renounce their foreign citizenship when seeking election to positions such as legislator or president.

This move has drawn sharp condemnation from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Legislator Wang Ting-yu labeled the proposal a "blatant plot" to facilitate China's annexation of Taiwan, warning that democratic safeguards might only have two more chances in 2026 and 2028. Taipei City Councilor Hsu Shu-hua echoed these sentiments, questioning the KMT's motives and highlighting the potential risks to Taiwan's democratic system and national security amidst ongoing threats from China.

How insane does the KMT have to be to want to allow Chinese people to elect the president of Taiwan?!

— Hsu Shu-huaTaipei City Councilor Hsu Shu-hua's public reaction to the proposed legislation.

Critics argue that relaxing these regulations opens the door for individuals holding Chinese citizenship to influence Taiwan's highest political decisions. They emphasize that this proposal comes at a time when Taiwan faces significant military intimidation, united front infiltration, and information warfare from mainland China, suggesting the KMT is weakening the island's defenses. The DPP insists that opposing this amendment is not about ideology but about upholding fundamental principles of national security and constitutional order for any democratic nation.

This is not just an amendment to legal provisions, but a major issue concerning Taiwan's democratic system and national security.

— Hsu Shu-huaTaipei City Councilor Hsu Shu-hua's assessment of the amendment's implications.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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