Taipei: More than 40 Taiwanese citizens are currently under investigation for allegedly possessing Chinese identity cards, with 14 individuals already receiving notification that their Taiwanese household registrations and other documents will be revoked, stated Taiwan's Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang at a press conference on Thursday.
According to Focus Taiwan, during the press conference held after a Ministry of the Interior administrative meeting in Taipei, Minister Liu explained that Taiwanese citizens found in possession of Chinese identity documents would face revocation of their Taiwanese health insurance, identity cards, and passports. This action would effectively strip them of their status as Taiwanese citizens.
Deputy Interior Minister Wu Tang-an provided further clarification, noting that regulations stipulate any Taiwanese citizen discovered to have Chinese household registration will have their Taiwanese registration canceled. Wu also mentioned that regaining household registration in Taiwan in the future would not be straightforward for those affected.
The press conference also addressed a case involving a Taiwan-based Chinese social media influencer, known online as "Yaya in Taiwan," who was recently ordered to leave Taiwan due to public statements supporting China's "military unification" of Taiwan. This action prompted Pa Chiung, a well-known YouTuber opposing the Chinese Communist Party, to call for a protest against the National Immigration Agency (NIA) concerning this and similar cases. Pa Chiung had brought attention to the issue of Taiwanese citizens illegally holding Chinese identity documents through his social media videos.
In response to these developments, Minister Liu emphasized that the NIA has adhered to legal procedures and maintained procedural norms. She also addressed the situation regarding "Yaya," noting that despite her inconsistent online statements, the penalty remains enforced. If "Yaya," a Chinese national with a residence permit based on her marriage to a Taiwanese citizen, does not comply with the 10-day deportation order, she will be forcibly removed from Taiwan, reiterated the interior minister.