Taipei, Nov. 25 (CNA) A Legislative Yuan committee on Wednesday passed preliminary reviews of proposed amendments to the Civil Code to lower the legal age of majority from 20 to 18 and to set the marriage age at 18 for both men and women.

During the review by the Legislature's Judiciary Committee, the Ministry of Justice argued that there was a high degree of consensus both in Taiwanese society and internationally for setting the age of majority at 18.

One of the main reasons, it said, is that young people now reach psychological maturity at a younger age, largely due to their exposure to technology and mass media.

In Japan, the age of majority was lowered from 20 to 18 in 2018, the ministry said, and in Taiwan's own legal system, 18 is already the minimum age of responsibility for criminal and administrative penalties.

The proposal, which would take effect in 2023, was approved with cross-party support in the committee, though it still needs to pass second and third readings by the full Legislature to become law.

During the hearing, lawmakers also advanced proposals to set the engagement age at 17 and the marriage age at 18 for both men and women, and to remove a clause that allows minors to marry with the consent of their legal guardians.

The current law states that males and females cannot marry before they turn 18 and 16, respectively, and cannot be engaged before 17 and 15, respectively.

Amending the legal age of majority in the Civil Code would affect private rights and duties, such as legal guardianship, inheritance and property ownership, but would not change the voting age, which is set at 20 in the Constitution.

In September, the Legislature set up an ad hoc Constitutional Amendment Committee, which is expected to review a proposal to lower the voting age to 18 during the current legislative session.