Economic Democracy Union convener Lai Chung-chiang (賴中強) yesterday slammed the government over its decision to relax immigration regulations for Chinese, urging more discussion in the legislature.
Prior to the presidential and legislative elections last month the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government announced new regulations allowing children of Chinese immigrant spouses from previous marriages to remain in Taiwan, an extension of the application pending period, and, for those over 20 years of age, permission to attend college during the pending period without returning to China.
Lai said that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) should not make the decision when he is to step down in a few months, adding that the number of immigrants allowed in Taiwan needs more public discussion and that the decision should be made by the legislature.
The National Immigration Agency said that because most Chinese immigrant couples’ children grow up in Taiwan and graduate from Taiwanese high schools, it would be difficult for them to move to China and adapt to the education system.
Meanwhile, because most of these people would be able to obtain Taiwanese citizenship, the government would help them to complete higher education, based on “helping to develop domestic talents,” the agency said.
According to the new regulations, starting this year, the quota for children of Chinese immigrants under 20 years old would increase from 180 to 200, and those who have lived in Taiwan for at least 183 days for two consecutive years can apply for naturalization.
The agency said that as there are 1,000 to 2,000 people who are on the waiting list for naturalization, it could take more than 10 years for all of them to complete the administrative procedure, adding that a four-to-six-year pending period would be more reasonable.
The agency made an advanced announcement that relaxing regulations on Chinese immigrants could increase the population, as the nation has an aging population.
According to the original regulation, underage children of Chinese immigrant couples must leave Taiwan at the age of 20 after completing high school.
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