By Michael Danielsen, chairman for Taiwan Corner
Denmark considers Taiwanese in Denmark to be Chinese. On official documents such as residence cards, Taiwanese are today given the nationality China even though they come from Taiwan. This is a change in practice in Denmark that began in early 2024 and was formalized in 2025. Until then, since 1978, Denmark, like all other EU countries, had registered Taiwanese with the nationality Taiwan.
Taiwan Corner has followed the case closely, written articles, and spoken publicly about it since the beginning of 2024. We believe the decision is wrong and contradicts Denmark’s One-China policy, which does not state that Taiwan belongs to China. In our best assessment, Denmark is acting alone within the EU and moving very close to China’s One-China principle, under which Taiwan is considered as a part of China.
The ministers in the current government, consisting of the Social Democrats, the Moderates, and Venstre, move the responsibility around and offer technical explanations for the change.
A law to ensure the correct designation of Taiwan in Danish registers
Apparently, it is very difficult for the government to find a solution. This is despite the fact that we at Taiwan Corner do not find it so difficult. We at least have a citizens’ proposal ready, which we will initially publish on our website. It is written as a proposal for a parliamentary motion (beslutningsforslag).
The specific proposal is inspired by earlier changes made for people from Palestine, Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. In those cases, it became possible to list these areas as a place of birth in the Civil Registration System (CPR) if the information could be documented. With our proposal, we wish to extend this practice so that Taiwan can also be registered as the place of birth and nationality for people from Taiwan.
The proposal entails:
- That the text of the CPR Act is updated so that “Taiwan” appears on an equal footing with Palestine, Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. In concrete terms, this means that if a person’s place of birth is Taiwan, this can now be registered accurately in the Civil Registration System (CPR).
- That citizenship follows what is stated in the passport that Denmark recognizes as valid for entry. If a person is a citizen of Taiwan, this should appear in the official registers.
Conclusion
Taiwan’s passport is one of the best passports in the world, and Taiwanese people have special rights in the EU. The proposal calls for Denmark to ensure that Taiwanese are treated in the same way as in the rest of the EU.
With this proposal, an important step is taken toward ensuring equal treatment and respect for the identity of Taiwanese in Denmark. The proposed legislative change will not only have significant practical importance but will also send a signal that Denmark recognizes and respects the challenges that Taiwanese may face.
Crucially, the proposal does not change Denmark’s original One-China policy.
Proposal for a Parliamentary Motion
We keep this section in Danish as this is our draft for a citizen proposal here written as a parliamentary motion (beslutningsforslag).
Beslutningsforslag til Lov om ændring af lov om Det Centrale Personregister
I lov om Det Centrale Personregister, jf. lovbekendtgørelse nr. 702 af 23. maj 2022, med de ændringer, der følger af § 1 i lov nr. 411 af 25. april 2023 og lov nr. 412 af 25. april 2023, foretages følgende ændringer:
Bilag 1: ”Dataindholdet i Det Centrale Personregister (CPR), jf. § 4 er følgende:”
| I bilag 1, nr. 4, indsættes efter 2. pkt. som nyt punktum og eksisterende punktum efter 2. pkt. fjernes: »Taiwan, Palæstina, Gaza, Vestbredden og Østjerusalem kan anføres som fødselsregistreringssted i CPR, hvis fødselsregistreringsoplysningerne findes der.« Note: Indsætte efter anden sætning i nr. 4 i bilag 1: Fødselsregistreringsoplysninger: Fødselsregistreringssted, dvs. aktuelle navn for sogn eller fødeland, eventuel verdensdel, hvor registrerede oplysninger findes, samt fødselsdato og køn. Tidligere fødselsregistreringsoplysninger bevares i CPR (historisk). Palæstina, Gaza, Vestbredden og Østjerusalem kan anføres som fødselsregistreringssted i CPR, hvis fødselsregistreringsoplysningerne findes der. |
| I bilag 1, nr. 5, indsættes efter 3. pkt. som nyt punktum: Der skal altid angives det statsborgerskab, der skrevet i det pas, som Danmark anser som validt ved indrejse. Note: Indsættes efter sidste sætning i nr. 5 i bilag 1: Statsborgerskabsoplysninger: Statsborgerskab, dvs. angivelse af det aktuelle navn for det land, hvor vedkommende er statsborger, eventuel verdensdel. Er personen statsløs angives dette. Tidligere statsborgerskab bevares i CPR (historisk). |
