February 18th 2025.
Japan made a significant announcement on Tuesday, indicating a change in policy and a clear disregard for China. The Japanese government has decided to allow Taiwanese citizens who have been naturalized in Japan to list their country of origin as Taiwan in their family register, starting on May 26. This move has been met with great approval from Taiwan, but it has also sparked a strong reaction from China.
Under the new regulation, both countries and regions can now be listed in the nationality section of family registries. This means that Taiwanese individuals who are married to Japanese nationals can now list Taiwan as their country of origin instead of China. This decision was made after the Japanese Ministry of Justice revised an ordinance, adding the option of listing a region in addition to a country, which shows a greater consideration for one's identity, according to reports from the country's media.
Previously, Chinese and Taiwanese individuals only had the option of listing China as their country of origin in the family registry. Even if a Taiwanese person obtained Japanese citizenship, their country of origin would still be listed as China. However, with this new change, Taiwanese individuals will now be able to have their country of origin listed as Taiwan in the registry. This will also apply to cases before the implementation of the ordinance revision, if requests are submitted.
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by various parties in Japan. He stated that Taiwan believes this change will lead to better protection of the rights and interests of overseas Taiwanese citizens in Japan.
On the other hand, China expressed its disapproval of the decision, urging Japan to abide by the "one-China" principle. A spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that there should be no "gimmicks" when it comes to the Taiwan issue and that Japan should not send any "conflicting or wrong signals." He also emphasized that the Taiwan issue is solely China's internal affair.
In recent years, China has been increasing its military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, putting pressure on Taiwan. In response, Taiwan and its allies consider the Taiwan Strait to be an international waterway and frequently send warships through it to assert their influence in the Indo-Pacific region and counter China's growing influence.
In conclusion, Japan's decision to allow Taiwanese citizens to list their country of origin as Taiwan in their family registries is a clear indication of a shift in policy and a snub to China. While Taiwan welcomes this change, China strongly disapproves of it and has urged Japan to follow the "one-China" principle. This development adds to the already tense relationship between the two countries, as China continues to increase its military presence in the Taiwan Strait.
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