The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has begun a review at the start of 2025 regarding government employees holding Chinese identification cards, residence permits, and passports, requiring current military and public sector employees to make a declaration. If any of these documents are found in their possession in the future, their Taiwanese residency will be revoked.

For the general public, the MAC has stated that if one holds a Chinese identification card, residence permit, or passport, their residency will be cancelled, but items such as residence permits, city pass, Taiwan resident certificates, bank cards, or transit cards will not affect the identity of Taiwanese citizens. Recent reports have indicated that the government has instructed military and public employees to avoid holding what is termed the 'Five Chinese Cards', which include Chinese mainland identity cards, residence permits, city passes, Taiwan resident certificates, and bank or transit cards.

The MAC clarified that holding the latter four categories does not impact Taiwanese identity but also cautioned the public about the risks of personal data misuse. General citizens applying for residence permits, city passes, Taiwan resident certificates, bank cards, or transit cards do not have their status affected because they do not have a registered household in mainland China. However, the information submitted in applications for these documents may expose individuals to privacy breaches, which could lead to unpredictable consequences.

The MAC reiterated that according to Article 9-1 of the Cross-Strait Relations Act, Taiwanese citizens are prohibited from having registered households or holding passports in mainland China, and violators will lose their Taiwanese identity, leading to the revocation of their residency by the authorities. Anyone holding Chinese mainland identity cards, residence permits, and passports will lose their Taiwanese identity.

Regarding what constitutes having a 'registered household', the MAC explained that it includes holding a Chinese mainland resident identification card and a residence permit, as the Chinese Communist Party uses 'settlement' as a basis for legal and administrative management. If an individual obtains a residence permit issued by Chinese public security, they can register for a permanent household and apply for a resident identification card similar to that of mainland Chinese citizens.

When asked if the investigation would extend to the general public, MAC's Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh stated that the government does not intend to investigate ordinary citizens beyond those in military and public service sectors. However, if ordinary citizens are reported to hold Chinese identities—whether residence permits, identity cards, or passports—action will be taken to revoke their Taiwanese identity in accordance with the Cross-Strait Relations Act.

For military and public service personnel, the MAC emphasized that, based on recent interpretations by the Executive Yuan, this group has a legal obligation to be loyal to the nation, and the government prohibits them from applying for residence permits from the Chinese authorities. The procedures for military and public personnel to automatically report or submit declarations have been completed, but any false declarations in the future will lead to legal liabilities.