In Taiwan, Chinese-born spouses face questions of loyalty and, some say, discrimination
Summary
In Taiwan, Chinese-born spouses who became citizens through marriage face questions about their loyalty and experience some discrimination as tensions with China grow. One such spouse, Li Chen-hsiu, briefly served in Taiwan’s Legislature but was forced out amid concerns over allegiance to Taiwan.Key Facts
- Li Chen-hsiu was the only Chinese-born lawmaker in Taiwan’s Legislature before she was removed after two months.
- Around 369,000 people in Taiwan are Chinese-born spouses who have citizenship through marriage.
- These spouses face changing government policies and suspicion due to rising tensions between Taiwan and China.
- Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war, and contact between them only resumed in 1987.
- China frequently sends military planes and navy ships near Taiwan and works to isolate Taiwan diplomatically.
- A Taiwanese court recently sentenced a leader of a spouses’ support group to prison for spying for China.
- The community of mainland spouses includes older women married to retired Chinese soldiers and younger, educated newcomers.
- Taiwan’s concerns about loyalty reflect broader fears of Chinese military threats and political interference.
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