New Taiwan passports to emphasize distinction with China

Taiwan plans to issue new passports emphasizing its independent identity and downgring connections with China.

foreign ministry on Wednesday released ims of new document that features “Taiwan” in large capital letters on its cover and minimizes English wording “Republic of China,” island’s official name according to its constitution.

Taiwan was handed over from Japanese to Chinese rule in 1945. Four years later, Chiang Kai-shek relocated Republic of China and its institutions to island as Mao Zedong’s Communist Party swept to power in Chinese Civil War.

Taiwan has since shrugged off political connections with China as part of its transition to full democracy. However, it has retained Republic of China as its official name, along with constitution, flag and state institutions brought from China.

Despite political divide, China continues to claim Taiwan as its own territory and has required foreign countries and multinational companies to refer to island as a part of China.

re was immediate reaction from Beijing on new passport design. Beijing responded angrily when Taiwan was ded to cover of Taiwanese passport more than a dece ago and has increasingly lashed out at assertions of island’s political independence.

China does t recognize Taiwanese passports and requires citizens of island traveling to mainland to use a Chinese-issued document.

change in passport design, to take effect in January, aims to prevent confusion between travelers from Taiwan and those from China, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told reporters.

He said ministry has informed International Air Transport Association, foreign governments, airports, airlines and immigration authorities about change and provided m with samples of new design.

passport redesign was mandated in a resolution passed by legislature in July, which also called for a change in logo of Taiwan's government-owned China Airlines, sometimes confused with Chinese flag carrier Air China.