Taiwanese nationality listed as “CHN” on a Danish residence permit. Photo: Private / Focus Taiwan
Taiwan has stepped up its response in an ongoing dispute with Denmark over how Taiwanese nationals are labelled on residence permits, warning of possible countermeasures if the issue is not resolved.
Danish authorities have been listing Taiwanese residents as “China” on official permits since 2024. The practice has already drawn repeated protests from Taipei.
Possible countermeasures
On March 25, Taiwan again urged Denmark to correct what it called an “erroneous designation” – and warned that further action could follow, according to The Straits Times.
Possible responses could include changes to privileges granted to staff at Denmark’s Trade Council in Taipei, which functions as Denmark’s de facto embassy on the island.
Taiwan has also warned the issue could damage Denmark’s reputation and affect cooperation between the two sides, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei said.
Part of wider push
The sharper tone marks a shift from earlier diplomatic protests and comes as Taiwan takes a firmer stance on how it is labelled internationally.
A similar dispute is currently unfolding with South Korea, where Taiwan has already introduced retaliatory measures over naming practices in immigration systems.
For Taiwan, such labels are not seen as administrative details, but as part of a broader effort to maintain its international visibility and status.