A Hualien village head has been fired over her Chinese household registration by the Interior Ministry (MOI). The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) says it supports the ministry’s handling of the affair, and stressed that the Nationality Act applies to all public officials with ties to any country other than Taiwan.

The civil servant, Teng Wan-hua (鄧萬華), was fired from her Xuetian Village Chief position on Friday on grounds that her Chinese Household registration contravenes the Nationality Act. Fuli Township Mayor Chiang Tung-cheng (江東成), who carried out the firing at the behest of the MOI, says he thinks it’s unfair and depriving Teng of her rights to identity, life, and property. Teng is the first local official in Taiwan to lose office for this reason.

MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) says the council’s position is consistent, and that the Nationality Act clearly states Taiwanese citizens who have acquired foreign nationality are forbidden from holding public office. This is based on the idea of loyalty to state, and the wish to avoid potential conflicts of interest such as one person feeling beholden to two conflicting states. 

Responding to claims that Teng should have been judged on the basis of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, Liang points out that this act only deals with household registration. He says even after household registration is dealt with, other laws may still apply.

The MOI also reiterated Sunday the clear terms of the Nationality Act. The ministry says those wishing to take office must complete renunciation procedures and submit the proper paperwork within a year of assuming office. Those who do not comply will be removed from office.

Critics have noted that this procedure could be difficult for Chinese nationals as Chinese law does not recognize the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Republic of China (Taiwan) as different countries, and may not issue the proper renunciation paperwork.