Pursuant to Article 9, Paragraph 2 of the Plains Indigenous Peoples Status Act, the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) has released the draft criteria for determining Kaxabu ethnic membership. The draft is intended to implement the Constitutional Court's Judgment No. 17 of 2022, which affirms that members of the recognized group may obtain indigenous status in accordance with the law.

The CIP emphasized that the publication of the draft is intended solely to solicit public comments. It does not constitute a final determination, nor does it represent a decision regarding the status of any individual case. After the 30-day public consultation period following publication in the Executive Yuan Gazette, the CIP will compile the submitted comments and forward them to the applicant as a response or clarification.

The CIP stated that in principle, the draft provides that Kaxabu ethnic membership shall be determined based on whether an individual's registered residence as documented in household registration records from the Japanese colonial period was located within the areas specified in the public notice, and whether the individual or a direct lineal ascendant by blood, adopted kinship, or specified relationship was identified in those records with the designation “Shu” or “Ping.”

The CIP reminded the public that the draft criteria for ethnic membership determination involve important personal identity rights and interests. Individuals who identify as Kaxabu, as well as members of the public concerned about this issue, are encouraged to carefully review the full text of the notice published in the Executive Yuan Gazette. Comments on the draft may be submitted during the public consultation period by mail to the Council of Indigenous Peoples, No. 439, Zhongping Road, Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City 242030, or by email to am3246@cip.gov.tw. For further inquiries, please contact (02) 8995-2345 ext. 3690 during office hours.