Living in Taiwan vs Germany and Elsewhere

Taiwan Living in Taiwan
21

GC Rider, the article in question is really supporting my feeling that is
and I quote from the article

Mr. Spock, hey back on the MRT band wagon, great!
Taiwan is anti-immigration - full stop. Foreigners are so few that
and I quote again from my own past
today’s situation in Taiwan would be a dream come true for European racists".
Those anti-immigration folks who want to send foreigners back to “their countries” and might vote for right wing parties in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany etc would gladly accept their countries to be a place like Taiwan, a place with few foreigners, where a big group of these foreigners is send home after a 1 or 2 year stay and the others are a tiny scattered minority and more a less a freak show. I bet that in such a situation most racist assholes in those European countries (or everywhere else) would gladly smile at a foreign face and engage in a little small talk praising language skills and the proper way of munching a sausage.
Basically every insecure xenophobe would start to hate something else.

I am not saying that all those nice Taiwanese smiling at us, praising our Chinese stammering etc. are racists or right wing folks. Not at all. But I think that their chance to prove that they are open minded and welcoming to a increasing foreign population that is staying in their country and not just passing has yet to come.

Right now, I don’t think racism is a problem for white folks in Taiwan, I agree with those who say we benefit from positive racism. If you are not white, it is a totally different story already today.

Is there is no “auslander raus” in Taiwan? Oh, ah yes there are no auslanders! And about those little groups who do exist here, you guys must be bleeding blind not to see that blue collar workers are discriminated against heavily, they have to give up their passports and have no right to stay.They have to leave, what is this if it isn’t “auslander raus”? What about foreign blue collar workers rights compared with the rights these people have in Germany?
Foreign brides from East-Asia anyone - are you sure they are welcomed? I could go on forever.
If the situation in Germany would be like in Taiwan even the most idiotic nazi could not shout “auslander raus”.
In the mind of the ordinary Taiwanese citizen, Taiwan is foreigners-free, it’s a game to spot the odd one!

22

I win! Do I get a prize?

23

Wow, you actually sound like one of those Germans who are racist yourself. Always harping on about racism.

Foreign residents Foreign residents in Taiwan Nationality / Origin Total
1 Indonesia 148,737 34.6%
2 Vietnam 86,317 20.1%
3 Philippines 74,483 17.3%
4 Thailand 68,618 15.9%
5 Japan 11,087 2.5%
6 United States 10,383 2.4%
7 Malaysia 9,735 2.2%
8 South Korea 3,428 0.8%
9 Canada 2,410 0.6%
10 India 1,538 0.4%
11 United Kingdom 1,388 0.3%
12 Singapore 1,091 0.3%

  • Other 11,157 2.6%
    Total 430,372 100.0%
    As of Feb. 28th, 2011 Source: National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior Besides, there are People of the Mainland China Area, Hong Kong and Macao residents, and Nationals without registered household in the Taiwan Area.

People Temporary residency Permanent residency
Mainland China 241,455 / 128,744
Hong Kong and Macao 34,241 / 21,218
nationals without registered household 136,846 / 204,808
As of Feb. 28th, 2011 Source: National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior

Thats only 1.19 million foreigners out of a population of 22,805,547

Yup no foreigners in Taiwan at all.

24

Wow, you actually sound like one of those Germans who are racist yourself. Always harping on about racism.

Foreign residents Foreign residents in Taiwan Nationality / Origin Total
1 Indonesia 148,737 34.6%
2 Vietnam 86,317 20.1%
3 Philippines 74,483 17.3%
4 Thailand 68,618 15.9%
5 Japan 11,087 2.5%
6 United States 10,383 2.4%
7 Malaysia 9,735 2.2%
8 South Korea 3,428 0.8%
9 Canada 2,410 0.6%
10 India 1,538 0.4%
11 United Kingdom 1,388 0.3%
12 Singapore 1,091 0.3%

  • Other 11,157 2.6%
    Total 430,372 100.0%
    As of Feb. 28th, 2011 Source: National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior Besides, there are People of the Mainland China Area, Hong Kong and Macao residents, and Nationals without registered household in the Taiwan Area.

People Temporary residency Permanent residency
Mainland China 241,455 / 128,744
Hong Kong and Macao 34,241 / 21,218
nationals without registered household 136,846 / 204,808
As of Feb. 28th, 2011 Source: National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior

Thats only 1.19 million foreigners out of a population of 22,805,547

Yup no foreigners in Taiwan at all.[/quote]

Only 2,410 Canadians? And where are the saffers? Oh,

25

Other 11,157 2.6% ?

26

[quote=“Toasty”][quote=“touduke”]

… we are having our second son next month! :slight_smile:[/quote]

Sincerest congratulations to you. :slight_smile: [/quote]
thanks Toasty!
When we come to Taipei to register him at the German office, we will ride on the MRT (probably Mucha line).

27

I don’t understand. You claim that Taiwan is anti immigration but that there is an increasing foriegn population. :loco: :loco: The Taiwanese don’t have to prove anything to anybody.

28

right! I see that you don’t understand - I wrote that ‘their chance has yet to come’, in my book that implies that the chance is not there yet.
There IS an increasing influx of foreigners who stay though. Foreign mail-order brides from Southeast-Asia are coming in numbers. Their status is similar to those domestic helpers that is: bad and sometimes terrible.

Dear Bismarck. I am aware that I’m in the middle of a discussion that isn’t the actual topic at hand. I am sorry - it is not my intention to derail this MRT thread (pun intended).

Mod note: No worries. I split it off into a new thread.

29

Jeeeez I better pay attention then, now that I am back in good old Germany. Marauding Death Squads might try to kill my souvenir from Taiwan while we walk the streets. In broad daylight this happens, I assume? Well, So far she likes it here. Lets see if that changes after the first near death experience, when she was lynched for not looking Aryan enough :roflmao:

30

Jeeeez I better pay attention then, now that I am back in good old Germany. Marauding Death Squads might try to kill my souvenir from Taiwan while we walk the streets. In broad daylight this happens, I assume? Well, So far she likes it here. Lets see if that changes after the first near death experience, when she was lynched for not looking Aryan enough :roflmao:[/quote]

That death squad is now mostly dead so nothing to worry about. Yes it was in broad daylight, you didn’t read the news. Bullet to the head.

31

Jeeeez I better pay attention then, now that I am back in good old Germany. Marauding Death Squads might try to kill my souvenir from Taiwan while we walk the streets. In broad daylight this happens, I assume? Well, So far she likes it here. Lets see if that changes after the first near death experience, when she was lynched for not looking Aryan enough :roflmao:[/quote]

Pretty shitty to laugh at ten people being murdered given your country’s ‘history’, your police force must have serious problems not to have figured this case out don’t you think?

32

Jeeeez I better pay attention then, now that I am back in good old Germany. Marauding Death Squads might try to kill my souvenir from Taiwan while we walk the streets. In broad daylight this happens, I assume? Well, So far she likes it here. Lets see if that changes after the first near death experience, when she was lynched for not looking Aryan enough :roflmao:[/quote]

Pretty shitty to laugh at ten people being murdered given your country’s ‘history’, your police force must have serious problems not to have figured this case out don’t you think?[/quote]

Sorry to give the impression of laughing at those murdered, that is not my intention. All I beg for is to differ: There is a slight difference for me between “Death Squads running around” (implying open and common attacks nationwide) and the murders of some brain-dead and mostly isolated neonazis this current news buzz is about. And I fully agree, German police (and even more the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, not to speak of a big part of politicians) have absolutely major problems, to the point of being a menace to society by themselves. I am politically active to help change that, but, alas, this will take a while.

I simply have to speak up when hearing such bullshit being said about the situation in nowadays Germany. There are indeed huge problems in this country, and one (and fortunately by far not the biggest one) of them is very small minority of open neonazis, plus a few more who silently agree and support. But fortunately, with the exception of some very troubled impoverished areas mostly in eastern Germany, such people are in my experience extremely isolated in their views and actions.

As for the ‘history’, which for whatever reasons you chose to put in quotation marks: Unlike for example (as far as I can tell) in Japan, I feel in Germany Society at large is very much aware of it’s history, and doesn’t try to belittle, ignore or justify what has been done by Germans in Germany’s name. I feel that the awareness of past atrocities and injustice is much, much more present here than for example in the US, South Africa - you can probably name very many. That might be the effect of total defeat, with excessive nationalism thoroughly carpet-bombed and firestormed out of most common people for good. Unfortunately this didn’t seem to have had too much effect in Japan, despite similar indescribable suffering - maybe Yuli can comment on whether my impression on the effect is correct or not. Anyway, while I don’t feel too sure all of the means by which all this was accomplished were the optimal way (or even legal, humane, …), I feel it was mostly necessary and justified, most definitely provoked, probably deserved - and in the end it definitely changed Europe for the better. Well, I guess nations that did not experience such a through purgatory probably have a harder time accepting that their history is not only glorious…

33

Taiwan is about as similar to Germany as Zimbabwe is to the USA. Well ok, some parts of Oakland look pretty much like what I think Zimbabwe must look like …

34

He could always relocate to Idaho :discodance: :whistle:

35

Dude, that’s a terrible comparison regardless of adding Oaktown or not. Taiwan as compared with Z??? You’ve got to be shitting me.

36

Dude, that’s a terrible comparison regardless of adding Oaktown or not. Taiwan as compared with Z??? You’ve got to be shitting me.[/quote]

My engrish must be bad or maybe its your engrish? Because im sayin comparin germany with taiwan is about as relevant as comparin zimbab with the USA. IN other words its a HUGE diff? Kimo? :raspberry:

Its like if A then B, but not if A then C here.

37

Dude, that’s a terrible comparison regardless of adding Oaktown or not. Taiwan as compared with Z??? You’ve got to be shitting me.[/quote]

My engrish must be bad or maybe its your engrish? Because im sayin comparin germany with taiwan is about as relevant as comparin zimbab with the USA. IN other words its a HUGE diff? Kimo? :raspberry:

Its like if A then B, but not if A then C here.[/quote]

Think about it: if you use Taiwan’s similarity to Germany as Z’s similarity to US, you’re setting Taiwan up as similar to Z since I really don’t see how Germany is superior to US (they’re more like equal IMHO).

Germany = US…and so what does that make Taiwan as compared with Z in your statement?

Taiwan may be a developing country but, come on, to use Z where you can be an instant billionaire? At least use Korea for Christ’s sake.

EDIT: Yes, there’s a difference between Taiwan and Germany but it’s not like Z to US HUGE!!! It’s more like Korea to US huge. Get it?

38

[quote]Think about it: if you use Taiwan’s similarity to Germany as Z’s similarity to US, you’re setting Taiwan up as similar to Z since I really don’t see how Germany is superior to US (they’re more like equal IMHO).

Germany = US…and so what does that make Taiwan as compared with Z in your statement?

Taiwan may be a developing country but, come on, to use Z where you can be an instant billionaire? At least use Korea for Christ’s sake.

EDIT: Yes, there’s a difference between Taiwan and Germany but it’s not like Z to US HUGE!!! It’s more like Korea to US huge. Get it?[/quote]

Even I can understand his English and I am not a native speaker. He meant that Taiwan has nothing in similar with Germany like the US has nothing similar with Zimbabwe…he did not say Taiwan is like Zimbabwe… come on!

39

Germany has the highest number of foreign citizens in Europe and I would estimate that in my hometown nazi-idiots are outnumbered 1:100 by foreign citizens or former foreign citizens who hold a German passport.

40

I did find the original discussion that was closed by engerim in the German forum much more entertaining…

Baituo! Please stop splitting hairs over a comparison that was never meant to be accurate in the first place.

Let’s get back to the topic. Living in Taiwan vs living in Germany and Elsewhere.

Where do you guys feel safer in general? I must say, I have never felt threatened here in Taiwan, apart from feeling slightly on edge when crossing the street. In Germany, they had several cases of drunk youth attacking other people in subway stations in recent years, where people were either killed or seriously injured, and the attackers continued kicking the head of the victim(s) lying on the ground. Even if those incidents are not common, I still think that’s a level of aggressiveness you won’t find in Taiwan. And then there is the aggressive behavior of soccer fans every weekend. That’s something you won’t see in Taiwan. Then there are the beggars and drug addicts you can see at railway stations and city centers in every large German city. You won’t see those in Taiwan.

Somehow I feel safer in Taiwan.