By Michael Danielsen, chairman of Taiwan Corner
It is clear after the consultation (samråd) on May 6, 2025, in the Danish Parliament that Denmark regards Taiwanese as Chinese, since they must be registered with the nationality ‘China’. This is evident from the response by the Minister for Immigration and Integration during the consultation, and it reflects the government’s foreign policy.
It is, in any case, difficult to interpret the minister’s response otherwise, as it was repeated several times that the One-China policy is the basis for the decision to standardize the practice of registering Taiwanese people in Denmark. Thus, we must also understand that Denmark has changed its interpretation of the One-China policy to mean that Taiwan is part of China.
New uniform practice
A new uniform practice has been decided for registering Taiwanese people in Denmark. As a consequence of the One-China policy, Taiwanese must be registered with the nationality ‘China’ and place of birth ‘Taiwan’. Place of birth does not have the same strict requirements regarding nationality. This will be the uniform practice.
This practice will apply both to Taiwanese who arrive in Denmark in the future and to those already living in Denmark when they renew their residence cards.
Advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Immigration and Integration has sought advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the standardization of the practice, and on that basis, Denmark’s One-China policy is used as the justification for the decision on the uniform practice.
One-China policy and the One-China principle
Karsten Hønge (SF) raised the correct discussion during the consultation about the difference between the One-China principle and the One-China policy.
China uses the One-China principle, which states that Taiwan is a part of China. Denmark and the EU have historically used the One-China policy. The One-China policy states that we recognize the People’s Republic of China as China. The One-China policy does not take a position on Taiwan’s status in relation to China.
When it is stated during the consultation that the registration of Taiwanese as Chinese is due to Denmark’s One-China policy, it is difficult not to interpret this as a shift toward the One-China principle and thus that Denmark considers Taiwan to be part of China.
Denmark could have chosen ‘stateless’ during registration.
Taiwan Corner believes a legislative change should be made
We in Taiwan Corner are puzzled by the issue, as it can be resolved with a simple legislative change. In other words, a change can be made that everyone can agree on, and that still acknowledges Denmark’s and the EU’s One-China policy.
As a starting point, Denmark could have registered Taiwanese as stateless, which is not perfect but would have been understandable.
Background
The consultation was convened by Pia Kjærsgaard (DF) and Steffen Larsen (LA)
Source
Consultation in the Danish Parliament on May 6, 2025
https://www.ft.dk/samling/20241/almdel/uru/samspm/i/index.htm
Danish Parliament TV showing the Consultation in the Danish Parliament on May 6, 2025
https://www.ft.dk/aktuelt/webtv/video/20241/uru/td.2133461.aspx?as=1
