A candidate who once loudly gave up her Taiwanese household registration to live in China is now running for local office in New Taipei, and voters are pushing back hard.

• Chen Chu-yin, a Taiwan University graduate turned martial arts actress, registered to run for city councillor in New Taipei's 11th district covering Xizhi, Jinshan and Wanli.
• She had publicly announced years ago that she was dropping her Republic of China household registration and health insurance to settle in China.
• She now says she only talked about it and never actually obtained a Chinese ID card or household registration.
• The New Taipei election commission says it will check whether that is true, since holding Chinese status would bar her from running.
• An open letter titled "Why I said I am Chinese" drew mostly angry comments online, with a few backing her call for peace across the strait.

Outlook: The election commission's verification will decide whether her candidacy stands, and the controversy is likely to follow her through the campaign.