Japan Set to Acknowledge Taiwan as Origin for Naturalized Citizens
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Synopsis
Japan's recent decision to allow naturalized citizens of Taiwanese origin to record Taiwan as their place of origin in family registrations marks a significant shift in policy, welcomed by Taiwan but criticized by China. This change, effective May 26, represents a notable move towards acknowledging Taiwanese identity.
Key Takeaways
- Japan allows Taiwanese naturalized citizens to list Taiwan as their origin.
- Policy change effective May 26, reflecting a shift away from the 'one-China' principle.
- Chinese nationals previously had to list China as their place of origin.
- Change supported by Taiwan's government, ensuring rights are protected.
- China responds negatively, reiterating its stance on Taiwan as a domestic issue.
Tokyo, Feb 18 (NationPress) Marking a significant shift in policy and a rebuff to China, naturalized citizens of Japan with Taiwanese origins will be permitted to record their place of origin as Taiwan in their family registries, effective May 26, according to an announcement made by the Japanese government on Tuesday. The Minister of Justice in Japan has amended an ordinance to allow individuals to specify regions as well as countries, a decision that has been positively received by Taiwan but has sparked a strong backlash from China.
The Japanese authorities will now permit the names of both countries and regions to be included in the nationality section of family registries. This change also enables individuals from Taiwan who are married to Japanese citizens to identify Taiwan in the registry rather than China. The Japanese ministry's decision to modify the ordinance to incorporate 'region' into the existing 'nationality' field indicates a growing sensitivity towards identity, as reported by local media.
Previously, individuals from Taiwan and China could only select China in their family registry. When registering for Japanese naturalization, the country of origin for Taiwanese individuals was recorded as China. Following the forthcoming changes in May, this practice will be updated, allowing Taiwanese nationals to have their country of origin listed as Taiwan. This adjustment will also be applicable to prior cases if requests are made, as indicated in reports.
Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-lung, expressed appreciation for what he described as the “sustained efforts” of various stakeholders in Japan. In his statement, Lin remarked that Taiwan “believes that the rights and interests of overseas Taiwanese” in Japan will be better safeguarded through accurate representations on Japanese family registries.
In response to this development, a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed dissatisfaction, urging Japan to adhere to the “one-China” principle. “No tricks regarding the Taiwan issue, and avoid sending mixed or incorrect signals,” he stated during a press briefing. He further emphasized that “the Taiwan issue is solely an internal matter of China.”
In recent times, Beijing has ramped up military drills in the Taiwan Strait to escalate pressure on Taiwan.
Conversely, Taiwan and its allies regard the Taiwan Strait as an international waterway, routinely dispatching warships through this region to assert their influence in the Indo-Pacific and counteract China's expanding presence.
