Taiwan Tightens Rules for China-Born Political Candidates

Taiwan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that individuals born in China seeking public office must prove their Chinese household registration was canceled at least 10 years prior to candidacy. The CEC clarified this is an administrative requirement stemming from a Mainland Affairs Council interpretation of existing law. Candidates must also maintain Taiwanese household registration for a decade following the cancellation.

The new rule follows the recent swearing-in of Li Zhenxiu, a legislator-at-large born in China, who had resided in Taiwan for over three decades. Article 20 of Taiwan’s Nationality Act already prohibits citizens holding another nationality from holding office.

Separately, the CEC cautioned that proposed changes to referendum procedures could strain election administration, potentially delaying results and complicating worker recruitment. The commission expressed concern about ballot complexity and storage requirements if multiple referendums are held alongside elections.