- The current passport bears its official name “Republic of China” and “Taiwan passport” in both English and Chinese.
- The resolution also aims to ensure the Mandarin and English words for “Taiwan” (台灣) on the passport cover is emphasized to “safeguard the dignity” of the Taiwanese people.
- In April, pro-independence politician Chen Po-wei explained that border agents reportedly tend to confuse Taiwanese passport holders with citizens of China, Taiwan News reports.
- The New Power Party (NPP) launched a contest soon after to gather design submissions from the public following guidelines by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
- Divided into two groups — the International Standards Group and the Creative Group — the competition was flooded with entries incorporating elements that are emblematic of Taiwan.
- Submitted designs included images depicting popular landmarks such as the Taipei 101; maps of Taiwan proper; the Presidential Office Building; popular dishes such as braised pork over rice, bubble tea; and animals, including the Formosan swallowtails, Yushan, the Formosan black bear, the Formosan sika deer, the Taiwan blue pheasant, the Taiwan blue magpie, whales and a cat.
- The five criteria for the initial selection are “design philosophy, aesthetics, innovation, the reflection of Taiwanese society, and imaginativeness.”
- A shortlist of proposed passport designs have since been made available on a dedicated website for public voting.
- According to NPP Chairman Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智), the online vote would allow public discussions on which passport cover design would best portray the image of Taiwan to the international community.
- As of this writing, “Butterfly of Formosa,” leads the finalists with the most votes for its clever use of a map of Taiwan as the wing of a butterfly.
- “The Diverse Land,” which uses numerous colorful dots to represent Taiwan’s island, comes in at the second place.
- “Guardian God” takes the third spot with a simple dark cover and a map of Taiwan highlighting its mountains.
- “520 TAIWAN,” at number four, incorporates national symbols such as orchids, the Formosan black bear, the Formosan sika deer and the Taiwan blue pheasant.