The issue of Chinese citizens being naturalized in Taiwan has long spurred debates about national security, immigration and national identity.
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00:00The complex issue of naturalizing Chinese citizens in Taiwan has become a matter of hot debate here.
00:06Perhaps the most controversial aspect regards when Chinese citizens need to renounce their original nationality.
00:12Unlike people of all other nationalities, a special law known as the Cross-Strait Act
00:17allows Chinese nationals to become naturalized in Taiwan without giving up their Chinese status.
00:23It also opens the door for their participation in politics, such as through voting.
00:27However, another law, the Nationality Act, stipulates that anyone who wants to serve in Taiwan's government
00:33must renounce all other nationalities.
00:58From last year to now, we have always had an opinion on this issue.
01:03In other words, the People's Relations Act only guarantees your right to participate in politics.
01:07But if you really want to serve, you have to follow the Nationality Act.
01:11That interpretation has applied to recent cases of Chinese-born politicians
01:16who have had their eligibility questioned or revoked.
01:19And the Mainland Affairs Council, or MAC, which handles cross-strait policies,
01:23may have the public on their side in this case.
01:26A recent poll by the MAC showed that 74% of respondents agreed
01:31that Chinese citizens should be required to renounce their citizenship in order to hold public office.
01:37Only 17% disagreed.
01:40Some of this support may be because of concerns about Chinese espionage,
01:44as numerous new cases involving people spying for Beijing have come to light recently.
01:50Some legislators have introduced an amendment that would make the requirement
01:53for renouncing other nationalities even clearer.
01:56In the past, there have been proposals to require naturalized Chinese citizens in Taiwan
02:01to undergo the same exams and requirements as other nationalized foreigners,
02:05along with taking a special oath.
02:08In the oath, I said that I would renounce my Chinese citizenship and serve Taiwan.
02:12This oath has a legal effect.
02:15If you violate the provisions in the oath, you must be cancelled.
02:20Another controversy is that Chinese nationals must live in Taiwan for six years
02:24to qualify for naturalization, while people of other nationalities need only four.
02:29Some opposition lawmakers are pushing to equalize the timeline,
02:33citing that Chinese nationals make up the largest group of foreign spouses in Taiwan.
02:50But the MAC says the timeline is a trade-off.
03:04This is not a good thing for Lu Pei.
03:07The debate over naturalization laws for Chinese citizens in Taiwan
03:11highlights deeper questions about national security and Taiwan's evolving identity
03:16and whether all citizens are equal before the law.
03:19Chris Ma and Chris Gorin for Taiwan Plus.