Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Recent Immigrants
Several hundred thousand Southeast Asians and Chinese have immigrated to Taiwan in
the past decade, many as mail-order brides for rural Taiwanese men. There are also a
small number of Westerners who have become Republic of China (ROC) citizens and
thousands who have become permanent residents.
ETIQUETTE: DOS & DON'TS
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If a Taiwanese gives you a gift, put it aside to open later to avoid appearing
greedy. Expect the same for a gift you have given.
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Don't leave your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice. It reminds Taiwanese of fu-
neral incense.
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Present and accepts things (such as business cards) with both hands as a sign of
respect.
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Don't be afraid to talk politics. But if someone says they are tired of it, they're
probably sincere and not being cautious.
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Don't give four of anything as a gift or white flowers. They are both associated
with death.
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Don't worry about being cheated by a taxi or small business owner. Taiwanese are
generally honest this way and will even offer you the same discount they would a
local.
Taiwanese Women Today
Taiwanese society leads Asia in sexual equality. The ROC constitution forbids discrimin-
ation on the base of gender, educational opportunities are equal for boys and girls, and in
working life women are found in the upper echelons of many companies, religious or-
ganisations and government departments. From 2000 to 2008 the vice president's posi-
tion was held by Annette Lu, and in 2012 the opposition candidate (gaining 46% of the
vote) was London School of Economics-educated Tsai Ing-wen. The percentage of fe-
male legislators is also high: 33.6%, compared with 7.9% in Japan, and 17.8% in the US.
Among young women, marriage and child bearing are being delayed longer and longer
(the average age now is 29 to 30, higher than most Western countries), with the result
that Taiwan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. What exactly is behind the low
rates is multifold. In part it's simply that Taiwanese women have more choices, but eco-
nomic stagnation also plays a large role: young Taiwanese simply cannot afford their
own families.
