A further nine high-level foreign professionals have acquired ROC (Taiwan) citizenship without relinquishing their original nationality. (LTN)
 

Nine more high-level foreign professionals have been granted ROC (Taiwan) citizenship without having to relinquish their original nationalities, according to the Ministry of the Interior Feb. 26.
 
The nine—specializing in arts, economics, education, medicine and technology—include professionals from Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar and the U.S.
 
All the new citizens are notable for their exceptional achievements, the ministry said. These include a Malaysian biotechnologist who has contributed to the country’s industrial development by participating in economic and trade forums organized between Taiwan and Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, helping to foster multilateral cooperation opportunities.
 
Equally impressive are a semiconductor specialist from the U.S. and a bass player from Japan. The former was a member of the research team led by Francois Englert and Peter W. Higgs that discovered the elementary particle Higgs boson, while the latter performed on a record nominated for album of the year at the Golden Melody Awards, Taiwan’s answer to the Grammys.
 
According to the MOI, 128 foreign professionals have so far been naturalized under amendments to the Nationality Act promulgated in 2016 enabling foreigners meeting certain conditions to obtain ROC (Taiwan) citizenship while retaining their original nationality. (YCH-E)