Taiwan civil servants swear they do not have Chinese citizenship

^{Photo: Reuters}
Taiwanese civil servants have been required to sign a written oath stating that they do not have a residence in China or a PRC identity document and do not intend to obtain one, the Taipei Times reported.

The order was issued by the island's Civil Service Bureau. According to it, military personnel, civil servants or teachers in public educational institutions must not have a residence in the PRC, as well as any identity document, passport or residence permit in mainland China.

Possession of such documents threatens national security and raises doubts about (a civil servant's) loyalty, the report said.

All officials must “make a written oath” that they have no official ties to the PRC. If such ties are discovered, these individuals will lose the opportunity to work in government structures. If an official holds a Chinese passport, he or she may be deprived of Taiwanese citizenship.

Previously, local media reported, without official confirmation, that more than 100,000 Taiwanese already have Chinese identity documents, and that the total number of those wishing to obtain Chinese passports has reached 200,000. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”