10 Comments

Good interview with Mike, but it should be clarified one important thing: dual (and, actually, multiple) nationality is already totally allowed in Taiwan, as Clarissa shows. She is Taiwanese and American. The whole point here is to give equal treatment to foreigners naturalising as Taiwanese acquiring a foreign citizenship. That's it. Dropping only the renunciation requirement from the naturalisation process, everything else stays put, including military service for males of age.

Expand full comment

@Matteo, yes you are absolutely correct of course.

Taiwan purports to have a sole nationality policy. However, it is arguably unique among liberal democracies for allowing its own natural-born citizens to acquire second or even third nationalities without having to renounce Taiwanese citizenship. In contrast, it requires naturalizing citizens with three tiny exceptions to renounce their original citizenship.

Some years ago, Peter Whittle wrote this essay on the subject. Almost all of it remains true today.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ysxds145Dpdzrw6UVLCWSWwig2s74HGMwOXZwlYYQtw/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.pgeovkg34mvy

Expand full comment

I was just clarifying one point. I completely agree with you that it does make no sense the current system, completely illogic.

But, by reading the article, that was the message it conveyed me. Anyways, things are in well in motion, is going to be a long and hard war with many battles to be fought. But it is a good fight worth the pain.

Expand full comment

There is a linktree here with videos, articles, and podcasts about the campaign itself and the issues. One of the very best is the short by the multi-talented musician and promoter 杜力 dooley (Matthew Candler). Check it out.

https://linktr.ee/shu_wang_gong

Expand full comment

雷堤娜 Tyna's Youtube channel is also very interesting although not specifically about this campaign. Tyna grew up in Taiwan and went to Taiwan's public schools all the way through college. She graduated National Taiwan University of the Arts (國立台灣藝術大學) where she studied dance. Her younger brothers, who are featured in some of her videos, were born in Taiwan and educated the same way. All would have to renounce German nationality to become the Taiwanese citizens that they should be.

https://www.youtube.com/@Krysjensen86

Expand full comment

Preston is another case of a 'foreigner' who was born in Tainan and grew up here but is not a citizen due to the renunciation requirement. This excellent article from a few years ago has many other stories.

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/02/06/taiwan-is-my-home-the-people-who-never-want-to-leave-but-still-cant-get-citizenship/

Expand full comment

There is no human right to multiple citizenships. You have a right to one only.

Expand full comment

I got all these things on my ARC in the 1990's

Phone contract

Credit cards

Car loan

Mortgage

opened a business

then later natualized in 1998

Expand full comment

Come on Jim, give it a break. Everyone in Taiwan is well aware of your heroic achievements but you really do go on about them a bit too much.

Expand full comment