A further six high-level foreign professionals acquire ROC (Taiwan) citizenship without relinquishing their original nationality. (Staff photo/Chen Mei-ling)
 

A further six high-level foreign professionals have been granted ROC (Taiwan) citizenship without having to relinquish their original nationalities, according to the Ministry of the Interior June 29.

The six—specializing in medicine, technology, environmental sociology, language education and mechanical engineering—include professionals from El Salvador, France, Malaysia, Venezuela and Vietnam.

All six are notable for exceptional achievements, such as an environmental sociologist from France who has devoted himself to research on pollution issues in Taiwan, the ministry said. A member of an advisory group for ex-workers of the now-defunct electronics company Radio Corporation of America since 2008, he has helped former employees seek compensation for exposure to cancer-causing chemicals during their time at the company.

According to the MOI, he is also deeply appreciated for raising awareness and understanding of the global climate crisis, promoting Taiwan-France academic exchanges in his field and voicing support for Taiwan in international journals.

Equally impressive is a young tech expert from El Salvador who specializes in product design and Internet of Things applications. He received a special prize for his ergonomic bandage dispenser at the Taiwan International Student Design Competition staged by the Ministry of Education in 2015 and has participated in the development of video platforms such as Vivido and koo.live.

According to the MOI, 238 foreign professionals have so far been naturalized under amendments to the 2016 Nationality Act that enable foreigners meeting certain conditions to obtain ROC (Taiwan) citizenship while retaining their original nationality. (YCH-E)