To fulfill the intent of the Constitutional Court's Interpretation No. 17 (2022), which guarantees the right of indigenous identity recognition, the Legislative Yuan today (October 17) passed the Plains Indigenous Peoples Status Act (the "Act") in its third reading. The passage marks a concrete response to the more than two decades of advocacy by the Plains Indigenous Peoples for official recognition and, in line with the Constitutional Court's ruling, stipulates the criteria for group identification, individual membership requirements, and registration procedures.

The Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) explained that, aside from the existing categories of "mountain indigenous peoples" and "lowland indigenous peoples," other Austronesian groups historically present in Taiwan may apply for recognition as Plains Indigenous Peoples if they meet the following criteria: continued possession of cultural characteristics, maintenance of ethnic identity among members, and existence of objective historical records. Once a group is formally recognized by the CIP, its members may apply to the Household Registration Office to obtain legal recognition as a "Plains Indigenous Person."

The CIP noted that nine Plains Indigenous groups, including the Siraya, have already submitted applications for recognition. A review committee will be established in accordance with the Act to ensure that each application is processed objectively, fairly, and transparently.

The council further emphasized that individuals who obtain Plains Indigenous status will immediately become eligible for protection under existing laws such as the Indigenous Languages Development Act, the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, and the Protection Act for the Traditional Intellectual Creations of Indigenous Peoples, thereby safeguarding their linguistic transmission, cultural preservation, and traditional knowledge. As for rights beyond language and culture, in line with the Constitutional Court's instruction that such rights be defined "by separate legislation," the government will develop or amend relevant laws within three years after the Act's implementation. These future legal frameworks will take into account each Plains Indigenous group's unique historical context and current circumstances, and national resource allocation to establish a comprehensive system of rights for Plains Indigenous Peoples.

The CIP concluded that preparatory work for subsidiary regulations and interagency coordination under the new Act has already been completed. The government will now expedite the process for group recognition and individual registration.