Japan Updates Registry Rules for Taiwan-Origin Citizens

From May 26 Japan now lets its citizens from Taiwan gain Taiwan identity on official family documents. The new decision deviates from the past policy which required people from Taiwan to identify themselves just as “Chinese”.

The Japan Ministry of Justice approved changes in their Nationality Ordinance to enable countries and regions selection in family registrations. Now both Taiwanese citizens married to Japanese nationals can select Taiwan as their birthplace alongside Chinese citizens. After getting Japanese citizenship Taiwanese origins had to be registered as China until this recent update. The updated records will start from existing cases when requested by individuals.

People from Taiwan embrace this new development. The recent decision made in Japan pleases Taiwan because Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung attributes its success to Japan’s continued work. The right family registry listing will help Japan better accept who Taiwanese people really are.

China rejects this change as its opposition. The Chinese Foreign Ministry official calls on Japan to support China’s one-China principle and correct any wrong messages. According to their representative an issue concerning Taiwan should be dealt with internally by China.

Beijing strengthens its military forces around Taiwan as Japan and its partners enhance Taiwan’s significance in Indo-Pacific region defense. Many countries use the Taiwan Strait for naval activities but China sees it as part of its own territory.