Immigration trends and policy changes in Taiwan

Abstract

This paper discusses the historical development of Taiwan's immigration policy since 1949, the demographic changes in the past two decades that shaped it, and its impact on female marriage migrants and migrant workers. Taiwan's current immigration policy is based on three ideologies: the patriarchal jus sanguinis principle, population quality, and national security. The result is a contradictory policy for marriage and labor migration. As regards the former, many Taiwanese men try to find wives from overseas, on the one hand, while the government strictly controls the entry of 'low quality' women from China and Southeast Asia, on the other. In the same manner, the policy allows high-skilled labor to move freely in and out of Taiwan, while it restricts the stay of blue-collar migrant workers and excludes Chinese nationals from working in Taiwan due to national security reasons. The paper also explores the possible impact of China's rising political economy on Taiwan's future policies, particularly on Taiwan's jus sanguinis immigration ideology.