Taiwan/Honduras: Whether a citizen of the People's Republic of China could have obtained a passport from the Republic of China (Taiwan) in order to travel to Honduras in 1993; whether this individual would have been granted the same rights as a national from the Republic of China (Taiwan); under what conditions the Republic of China (Taiwan) would have granted passports to citizens of the People's Republic of China without requiring the individual to become a citizen of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (1993)

In 8 November 2006 correspondence with the Research Directorate, an official at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ottawa indicated that

[u]nder special circumstances and policy considerations, embassies and consulates of ROC [Republic of China] (Taiwan) did issue a few passports to certain nationals of PRC [People's Republic of China] residing abroad in the early days; thus [the ROC (Taiwan)] wouldn't rule out any possibility that a national of PRC held a passport issued by ROC (Taiwan) to travel to Honduras in 1993.

The rights for the said passport holders were different from those of the nationals of ROC (Taiwan). The said holders must apply for permission prior to both entry to and exit from Taiwan. Besides, they had no rights to participate in politics or become public employees. That is to say, they were not entitled to ROC citizenship.

According to the current "Act Governing Relations between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland (China) Area," the ROC (Taiwan) Government no longer accepts any application for passports from nationals of PRC. Only after they have been permitted to take up their residences in Taiwan and gained nationality could they apply for ROC passports.

However, in 28 November 2006 correspondence with the Research Directorate, an official at the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei indicated that

Taiwanese law has only recently allowed persons from the PRC to immigrate to Taiwan, and this applies only to sponsored spousal cases. In 1993, it would have been very unusual for a PRC national to "immigrate" to Taiwan and obtain a legal and valid Taiwanese passport.

...

Prior to 2000, only short term residency visas were issued to PRC nationals with relatives in Taiwan. There was no naturalization process. Only in exceptional cases would someone from the PRC be granted citizenship by the Taiwanese authorities.

...

Assuming that the person fit into some exceptional circumstance and became a Taiwanese national, he or she would be issued a passport with the same validity as any other Taiwanese, which in 1993 was six years. (On 29 May 2000, Taiwan started to issue passports which are valid for 10 years).

...

Assuming that the person fit into some exceptional circumstance and became a Taiwanese national, he would be granted the same rights [as] a Taiwanese national.

The Official also indicated that the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei is not aware of any condition under which the ROC (Taiwan) would grant a passport to a citizen of the PRC without requiring the individual to become a citizen of the ROC (Taiwan) (Canada 28 Nov. 2006).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of the sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Canada. 28 November 2006. Canadian Trade Office, Taipei. Correspondence from an official.

Taiwan. 8 November 2006. Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Ottawa. Correspondence from an official.

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Taiwan Bureau of Consular Affairs, United States Bureau of Consular Affairs.