Taiwan's national identification card system is a carryover from the system used by the Japanese colonial government, which divided communities into units virtually along military lines. The categorization of each unit would be detailed in the household registration certificate. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) retained this system because of its effectiveness in maintaining a high level of control over the citizenry, especially in regards to the registration of the "ancestral home." Although the system has been considerably simplified since then, the distinctions, especially between non-Mainlander and Mainlander, continue to exist.
The ID card that every Taiwanese carries was in fact not issued until 1947, the year that also marked the beginning of the White Terror. Since then, the ID card has served the function of a police record sheet, and the law requires that it be carried at all times.
Since it was first issued, the ID card has been reissued on two occasions to bring it into line with social changes and advances in technology, and its appearance has been changed three times. To prevent counterfeiting, the government issued guidelines for the production and issuance of ID cards in 1993, further tightening its control over the population.
Although the government has established safeguards, the requirement that ID cards store fingerprint data presents a new challenge to Taiwan, which, after all, claims that it is a country built on the idea of human rights.
The replacement of the new ID card was slated for July, but because of the handing down of Interpretation No. 599 by the Council of Grand Justices -- on whether fingerprint data violated human rights -- implementation has been postponed.
Given the widespread counterfeiting of IDs, a universal replacement of ID cards is a matter of urgency. As a result, the Cabinet has promised that if the Legislative Yuan insists all citizens (over the age of 14) submit a full set of fingerprints when applying for a card, it would support the legislature's position.
We should also dismiss the supposedly clear relationship between ID replacement and public order, because if we look at the history of the ID card since 1956, we see that it has changed appearance three times. But, on each occasion, criminals have managed to outwit authorities.
Therefore, in our rather inept efforts to make the ID card more effective through the use of technology, we should be wary of introducing a cure that is more vicious than the disease. This is especially the case as the government's management information systems have never been able to keep pace with criminal groups.
Therefore, even if fingerprint data for the ID card helps reduce crime, the government should also make an assessment of other costs, and look into the problem of civic education.
Taiwan is a quasi-capitalist society with a plentiful supply of corruption, fraud and exploitation. But it is virtue, love and compassion that are the characteristics that will make our nation grow. Taiwan and South Korea, who have comprehensive national identification systems, have them simply because they were formerly colonized by Japan. So why are they lagging behind Japan in civic virtue and public order?
No matter how "sacred" we regard the the national ID card, it remains a symbol of Taiwan's status as a colonial culture. Moreover, the bureaucratic culture which recognizes permits and not people, is also at the root of much crime in this country. It is also a way in which government officials can shirk responsibility. Taiwan must escape from under the shadow of an oppressive bureaucratic culture and strengthen the public's moral education. Only in this way can Taiwanese find their own way.
Chen Ming-chao is head of the Household Registration Office in Tayuan Township, Taoyuan County.
TRANSLATED BY LIN YA-TI
Two weeks ago, Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh (楊紫瓊) raised hackles in Taiwan by posting to her 2.6 million Instagram followers that she was visiting “Taipei, China.” Yeoh’s post continues a long-standing trend of Chinese propaganda that spreads disinformation about Taiwan’s political status and geography, aimed at deceiving the world into supporting its illegitimate claims to Taiwan, which is not and has never been part of China. Taiwan must respond to this blatant act of cognitive warfare. Failure to respond merely cedes ground to China to continue its efforts to conquer Taiwan in the global consciousness to justify an invasion. Taiwan’s government
Earlier signs suggest that US President Donald Trump’s policy on Taiwan is set to move in a more resolute direction, as his administration begins to take a tougher approach toward America’s main challenger at the global level, China. Despite its deepening economic woes, China continues to flex its muscles, including conducting provocative military drills off Taiwan, Australia and Vietnam recently. A recent Trump-signed memorandum on America’s investment policy was more about the China threat than about anything else. Singling out the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as a foreign adversary directing investments in American companies to obtain cutting-edge technologies, it said
The recent termination of Tibetan-language broadcasts by Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) is a significant setback for Tibetans both in Tibet and across the global diaspora. The broadcasts have long served as a vital lifeline, providing uncensored news, cultural preservation and a sense of connection for a community often isolated by geopolitical realities. For Tibetans living under Chinese rule, access to independent information is severely restricted. The Chinese government tightly controls media and censors content that challenges its narrative. VOA and RFA broadcasts have been among the few sources of uncensored news available to Tibetans, offering insights
“If you do not work in semiconductors, you are nothing in this country.” That is what an 18-year-old told me after my speech at the Kaohsiung International Youth Forum. It was a heartbreaking comment — one that highlights how Taiwan ignores the potential of the creative industry and the soft power that it generates. We all know what an Asian nation can achieve in that field. Japan led the way decades ago. South Korea followed with the enormous success of “hallyu” — also known as the Korean wave, referring to the global rise and spread of South Korean culture. Now Thailand
RSS