AP reports that the growing number of Chinese-born residents in Taiwan, who are mostly the wives of Taiwanese businessmen, are not granted several basic rights, including the right to vote in upcoming elections:
So tens of thousands of long-term residents who look like other Chinese in Taiwan, speak the same language and share a cultural tradition, are forbidden to work, open a checking account, take out a loan or register a business. Nor can they cast a ballot – in the legislative elections Saturday and the presidential election in March, which will focus largely on the relationship Taiwan wants with its giant neighbor…
Although foreign spouses, these days predominantly from Southeast Asia, can gain citizenship and vote within four years of entering Taiwan, mainlanders must wait at least eight years to gain permanent residence status and a Taiwan identity card, akin to a Social Security card in the United States, that will allow them to vote. [Full text]
Read also an article from AFP about how the elections might impact cross-Straits business ties. Later this week Sam Crane will be posting dispatches to CDT live from the elections in Taipei.
