TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Central Election Commission (CEC) on Saturday (Dec. 16) refuted media reports questioning the past nationality of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice-presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim, affirming that such claims were unsubstantiated and contradicted the facts.
The CEC highlighted that it requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs verify whether any presidential candidates possessed foreign nationality, and the Ministry of the Interior confirm any changes in nationality status on Nov. 27.
Based on consent forms provided by the candidates, the inquiries found no records of nationality restoration or naturalization to Taiwanese citizenship for Hsiao, the commission stated.
The CEC emphasized that, in accordance with the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act, the qualifications of presidential and vice-presidential candidates are determined by the CEC.
Upon review, all candidates met the legal requirements without holding foreign nationality, which would prohibit them from registering as candidates, said the CEC.
Chen Chao-chien, deputy chair of the CEC, was reported by the China Daily News a day earlier, stating that the doubts raised about Hsiao's nationality from earlier years exceeded the legal mandate of the CEC, rendering them unable to investigate further.