A political campaign poster in Taiwan has ignited a firestorm online amid a larger protest against the hiring of Indian workers. A viral clip shows Lee Hung-yi, a candidate for Kaohsiung City Council, displaying a controversial billboard on Shanming Road in the city's Siaogang District. Under the 'no' symbol, the poster features a picture of a man wearing a turban and an inverted flag of India, with the promise to ban Indian immigration.
Reaction from Indian-Origin Residents
Ian Miles Cheong, a Malaysian journalist and writer, shared a video from a Taiwanese news channel on X (formerly Twitter). In the video, a reporter claimed that Indian-born residents in Taiwan felt uncomfortable due to the billboard. One resident, identified as Mrs V, said, 'It's really unfriendly toward our people. You can't display such a racist sign in such a public place; I hope they'll remove the billboard.'
The reporter noted that residents of Indian origin found the billboard offensive, pointing out that the turban is not quintessentially Indian but specific to Sikhism. They also remarked that the candidate was reinforcing stigma against migrant workers.
Candidate's Response
Lee Hung-yi defended the billboard, stating, 'Clearly it means I oppose introducing Indian migrant workers. I won't remove the billboard. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.' Cheong captioned the video, 'The Taiwanese are not particularly fond of Indians. One political candidate in Kaohsiung vows to ban Indians from immigrating.'
Social Media Reaction
Numerous netizens reacted with concern for Indian residents in Taiwan, while others blamed them for leaving their home country. One user wrote, 'As an Indian these things used to affect me but now this kind of hate and vile racism is so common and happens so often that now I don't really feel anything. Actually, if now someone says good things about Indians, it feels weird to me.' Another added, 'Only 3500 to 4000 Indians work in Taiwan while people from countries like Vietnam and Indonesia go there in large numbers. They are spreading propaganda against Indians just to get votes.' A third user questioned, 'How is this legal? They allow this and expect the free world to save them if China attacks them?'
Context: Protests Against Indian Migrant Workers in Taiwan
Taiwan has recently attempted to address its worsening labor shortage by recruiting Indian migrant workers. However, over 40,000 people signed an online petition demanding that the government halt a pilot plan to bring in 1,000 workers. This plan was based on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Taiwan and India in February 2024, which allowed limited recruitment of Indian workers for manufacturing and construction. The proposal began with a cautious pilot of just 1,000 workers.
According to officials, labor shortages are driven by an aging population and falling birth rates, leading to an economic and social crisis. As a result, Taiwan's labor pool heavily relies on migrants from Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand.
