Taipei: Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) expressed disappointment over the Legislature’s decision not to remove Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Li Chen-hsiu from her position, citing issues related to her eligibility.

According to Focus Taiwan, MAC Deputy Head and Spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh stated at a news briefing that the executive branch regrets the Legislative Yuan’s decision not to revoke Li’s status as a lawmaker. Under Article 20 of the Nationality Act, the authority to revoke a lawmaker’s status lies with the Legislative Yuan. Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) reaffirmed the decision following interparty negotiations.

The meeting involved lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the TPP, and the KMT, who collectively hold a legislative majority. Han noted that the facts and legal issues regarding Li’s case require further clarification. Until the establishment of relevant facts and a final judicial ruling, Li’s legislative status and powers should be respected.

Li currently faces no legal action for what the government describes as unlawfully occupying a legislative seat and has already taken the oath of office.

MAC’s Liang highlighted two issues with Li’s eligibility. The first issue concerns whether she held dual household registration in China and Taiwan when she registered as a candidate. Article 21 of the Cross-Strait Act mandates that individuals who previously held household registration in China must have maintained Taiwanese household registration for ten years before running for public office.

Additionally, Article 9-1 of the act requires naturalized Taiwanese citizens to provide proof of having relinquished household registration in China, a requirement strictly enforced starting early 2025. Since Li did not submit proof to the National Immigration Agency (NIA) before March 2025, her eligibility to run for office should be counted from that date, making her ineligible until 2035.

The second issue involves whether Li applied to renounce her People’s Republic of China (PRC) nationality before assuming office. Liang linked this requirement to the Nationality Act’s restrictions on holding public office while retaining another country’s nationality. According to the Ministry of the Interior, Li failed to apply for renunciation of her PRC nationality before taking office, indicating that she is not legally qualified to hold her position.