The Ministry of the Interior has announced the amendment of the regulations for mainland Chinese applicants seeking to settle in Taiwan, requiring the submission of a 'notarized certificate proving that no mainland Chinese passport has been applied for, held, or abandoned (cancelled)'. The Mainland Affairs Council stated that if applicants are unable to obtain the certificate, they may opt for an affidavit instead.

The Ministry of the Interior has revised the 'Regulations Governing the Permit for the Residence, Long-Term Residence, or Settlement of Mainland Chinese Nationals in Taiwan', adding a requirement for applicants to submit a notarized certificate proving that no mainland Chinese passport has been applied for, held, or abandoned (cancelled).

Chiang Wen-chieh, Deputy Director-General and Spokesperson of the Mainland Affairs Council, stated that according to the Cross-Strait Relations Act, mainland Chinese nationals applying for settlement in Taiwan must not only submit proof of loss of their original domicile but also must not hold a mainland Chinese passport. Due to the low rate (approximately 12%) of mainland Chinese nationals holding passports, and the fact that cross-strait travel does not typically involve the use of passports, it has been difficult to enforce the requirement of proving that a mainland Chinese passport is not held.

Chiang Wen-chieh stated that in the future, mainland Chinese nationals applying for settlement in Taiwan must submit a certificate proving that they do not hold a mainland Chinese passport. If they cannot provide this certificate or have never held a passport, they may use an affidavit instead.

Chiang Wen-chieh emphasized that the affidavit must be truthful. If the applicant indeed holds a mainland Chinese passport, the applicant will be required to cut the corner of the passport. If it is later discovered that the applicant used a mainland Chinese passport to travel abroad, this will affect their status as a settler in Taiwan.

Chen Yu-jen, a KMT legislator, criticized the changes, stating that the Constitution of the Republic of China is based on the 'One China, Two Areas' framework and questioned how one can abandon a passport that is not recognized by the Constitution. Chen argued that revising the regulations for mainland Chinese applicants seeking to settle in Taiwan is not an important task and warned the Ministry of the Interior not to 'promote Taiwan independence'.

Chiang Wen-chieh responded that this is unrelated to Taiwan independence. He explained that a mainland Chinese passport is an official document issued by the mainland government and is a proof of public authority. He stated, 'We do not deny the mainland Chinese passport; however, when mainland Chinese and Taiwan residents interact and pass through customs, neither side uses passports.' He added that Chen Yu-jen has a misunderstanding regarding the practical implementation.