Taiwan has strongly condemned discriminatory remarks directed at Indians amid a growing political debate in Taiwan over the recruitment of migrant workers from India.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC), Taiwan’s main representative office in India, has strongly condemned discriminatory remarks directed at Indians amid a growing political debate in Taiwan over the recruitment of migrant workers from India.
In a statement, the TECC said Taiwan has long been committed to introducing Indian migrant workers and emphasised that
recent “biased remarks” made by certain individuals do not represent the position of Taiwan or its people.
Taiwan has long been committed to planning the introduction of Indian migrant workers. Regarding the recent discriminatory publications/comments made by certain individuals in Taiwan, we solemnly clarify that such biased remarks do not represent our stance. Taiwan cherishes the…
— Taiwan in India (@TWIndia2) May 20, 2026
The office said that Taiwan values democracy, inclusivity and diversity, and supports greater people-to-people exchanges between India and Taiwan.
The statement also expressed regret over “any form of prejudice, racism and discrimination” and reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation with India.
Controversy over election campaign billboard
The clarification came after controversy erupted over a campaign billboard put up by Lee Hung-yi, a candidate contesting for the Kaohsiung City Council in southern Taiwan. The billboard, displayed in the city’s Siaogang district, featured an image of a man wearing a turban alongside an inverted Indian flag and carried a message promising to ban Indian immigration into Taiwan.
The Taiwanese are not particularly fond of Indians. One political candidate in Kaohsiung vows to ban Indians from immigrating. pic.twitter.com/bKrvIoXi0W
— Ian Miles Cheong (@ianmiles) May 18, 2026
The billboard drew criticism from members of the Indian community and local residents, who described it as offensive and discriminatory. Critics said that the campaign material reinforced negative stereotypes against migrant workers and unfairly targeted Indians.
The issue gained attention at a time when Taiwan is debating a plan to recruit more Indian workers to meet labour demands in sectors such as manufacturing and construction.
Labour agreement between India and Taiwan
Currently, only around 3,500 to 4,000 Indians work in Taiwan. However, Taiwan has been exploring the possibility of bringing in more workers due to labour shortages caused by an ageing population and declining birth rates.
In February 2024, India and Taiwan signed a migration and mobility agreement aimed at facilitating the employment of Indian workers across different sectors. The agreement was seen as a sign of growing cooperation between the two sides.
The labour recruitment plan was based on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the two governments, allowing limited recruitment of Indian workers for specific industries. However, the proposal has faced political opposition in Taiwan, with over 40,000 people signing an online petition demanding that the pilot project be halted.
The opposition Kuomintang (KMT), which has remained out of power for nearly a decade, has revived criticism of the labour agreement despite earlier parliamentary consultations that had allowed the proposal to move forward.
Despite the current debate surrounding migration, India does not occupy a major place in Taiwan’s domestic political discussions or foreign policy priorities. Analysts say the controversy is linked more to local election politics and immigration concerns than to broader India-Taiwan relations.
First Published:
May 20, 2026, 17:29 IST
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