The draft of a new refugee law passed its first legislative committee review on Thursday. The draft bill allows foreign nationals or stateless people to seek asylum in Taiwan if they are displaced by war or major natural disaster, or if they are oppressed on grounds of religion, ethnicity or for holding dissenting political views.
Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Yu Mei-nu, who took part in the review, gave more details.
"[The law applies to] people who are forced to leave their country of nationality or country of residence for having dissenting political views, or who have legitimate cause to fear persecution, who are not afforded protection by their own state. If because of this fear they are unwilling to return to their own country, they may apply for refugee status," Yu said.
A draft bill requires three legislative reviews before passing into law.