Yu Ying-lung Calls Nationality Act Treatment of Mainland Spouses' Political Rights Forced; Ministry of Interior: Acting According to Law
CEC Chairman Yu Ying-lung stated that using the Nationality Act to address the political participation rights of mainland spouses is strained. The Ministry of the Interior emphasized its consistent stance of acting according to law, citing that public officials must renounce foreign nationalities before taking office, applying consistently across past and present cases.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 18:53
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 19:02 (8 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 27, 2026 at 20:51 (1h 49m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Kao Hua-chien, Taipei, April 27) Yu Ying-lung, the newly appointed Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) today, stated that using the Nationality Act to address the political participation rights of mainland spouses is still forced at this stage. The Ministry of the Interior pointed out that its stance of acting according to law has not changed, and that past cases, including former legislators Li Ching-an and Li Ming-hsing, and the case of former Taiwan People's Party legislator Li Chen-hsiu, apply the same standard.
CEC Chairman Yu Ying-lung stated in his inaugural address this morning that the CEC faces six major challenges. Regarding the political participation rights of mainland spouses, Li Chen-hsiu is by no means the last case. Unless the constitution and laws are properly adapted and amended, and given the special nature of cross-strait relations, using the Nationality Act at this stage is still forced and highly controversial.
In a press release this afternoon, the Ministry of the Interior stated that it acts according to law, and its stance has never changed. According to Article 20 of the Nationality Act, those wishing to serve as elected public officials of the Republic of China must renounce nationalities other than that of the Republic of China before taking office, and complete the process within one year of taking office. Past cases, including those of Li Ching-an and Li Ming-hsing, apply the same standard as Li Chen-hsiu's case.
The Ministry of the Interior emphasized that Li Chen-hsiu failed to renounce nationalities other than that of the Republic of China before February 3 this year, and thus lacked the qualification to serve as a legislator of the Republic of China from the outset. Therefore, the Ministry of the Interior sent a letter to the CEC on April 24 requesting the removal of relevant announcements, and also sent a letter to the Secretary-General of the Legislative Yuan, Chou Wan-lai, requesting the removal of relevant information from the Legislative Yuan's global information website.
The Ministry of the Interior pointed out that according to the National Security Law, National Intelligence Law, and Anti-Espionage Law of the People's Republic of China, former mainland Chinese citizens have the obligation to cooperate with intelligence agencies' requests for information before renouncing their Chinese nationality. If they do not renounce their nationality in accordance with the law, they may face conflicts of national loyalty obligations. (Editor: Lin Ke-lun) 1150427
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(Central News Agency reporter Kao Hua-chien, Taipei, April 27) Yu Ying-lung, the newly appointed Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) today, stated that using the Nationality Act to address the political participation rights of mainland spouses is still forced at this stage. The Ministry of the Interior pointed out that its stance of acting according to law has not changed, and that past cases, including former legislators Li Ching-an and Li Ming-hsing, and the case of former Taiwan People's Party legislator Li Chen-hsiu, apply the same standard.
CEC Chairman Yu Ying-lung stated in his inaugural address this morning that the CEC faces six major challenges. Regarding the political participation rights of mainland spouses, Li Chen-hsiu is by no means the last case. Unless the constitution and laws are properly adapted and amended, and given the special nature of cross-strait relations, using the Nationality Act at this stage is still forced and highly controversial.
In a press release this afternoon, the Ministry of the Interior stated that it acts according to law, and its stance has never changed. According to Article 20 of the Nationality Act, those wishing to serve as elected public officials of the Republic of China must renounce nationalities other than that of the Republic of China before taking office, and complete the process within one year of taking office. Past cases, including those of Li Ching-an and Li Ming-hsing, apply the same standard as Li Chen-hsiu's case.
The Ministry of the Interior emphasized that Li Chen-hsiu failed to renounce nationalities other than that of the Republic of China before February 3 this year, and thus lacked the qualification to serve as a legislator of the Republic of China from the outset. Therefore, the Ministry of the Interior sent a letter to the CEC on April 24 requesting the removal of relevant announcements, and also sent a letter to the Secretary-General of the Legislative Yuan, Chou Wan-lai, requesting the removal of relevant information from the Legislative Yuan's global information website.
The Ministry of the Interior pointed out that according to the National Security Law, National Intelligence Law, and Anti-Espionage Law of the People's Republic of China, former mainland Chinese citizens have the obligation to cooperate with intelligence agencies' requests for information before renouncing their Chinese nationality. If they do not renounce their nationality in accordance with the law, they may face conflicts of national loyalty obligations. (Editor: Lin Ke-lun) 1150427
Choose to stand with facts; your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.