Taipei: “Maintaining the status quo is Taiwan’s greatest consensus,” Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang emphasized, addressing a political backlash over her recent comments suggesting Taiwan “recognizes” the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

According to Focus Taiwan, Liu clarified that her previous statement was made “from the standpoint of the government of the Republic of China (ROC)”-Taiwan’s official name-focusing on legal applications by Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior. She explained that foreign nationals, including Chinese nationals, must renounce foreign nationality to hold public office in Taiwan. If renunciation of PRC nationality is acknowledged by Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), a semi-official body managing Taiwan-China interactions, the government will “recognize it as a valid official document.”

Liu emphasized that public office holders must be loyal to the Republic of China. Her initial remarks faced criticism from political adversaries for being “unconstitutional,” with Ma Ying-jeou Foundation Executive Director Hsiao Hsu-tsen demanding her resignation. Taiwan, officially the ROC, is claimed by the PRC, leading to enduring tensions.

When questioned about the PRC’s status under the ROC’s Constitution, Liu stated that “the ROC and the PRC are not subordinate to each other” per the Constitution’s Additional Articles. She added that Taiwan’s government “recognizes” the PRC in terms of accepting PRC documents as “effective legal documents.”

Liu also addressed the recent dismissal of Deng Wan-hua, the chief of Xuetian Village, due to PRC nationality. She explained that the eligibility of PRC-born spouses of Taiwanese citizens for office is governed by specific acts and that she was not responsible for Deng’s dismissal. Liu noted that four other village chiefs face similar issues due to recent renunciation of their household registration, urging local governments to offer legal guidance.

Premier Cho Jung-tai remarked on Taiwan’s geopolitical position, advocating a proactive approach in cross-strait relations and Indo-Pacific peace. He stated that mutual recognition of existence and legal equality between the PRC and ROC could foster peace.