Roamingindian at 20:03, 10 January 2026

2026-01-10T20:03:55Z

New page

{{Short description|Protest in Taiwan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = 2023 Taiwanese anti-Indian migrant worker protest
| subtitle =
| partof =
| image =
| caption =
| date = {{End date|2023|12|3}}
| place = [[Ketagalan Boulevard]], [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]]
| coordinates =
| causes = Opposition to a memorandum of understanding for importing Indian workers
| goals = * Stop adding new migrant worker countries
* Provide an effective platform for people to speak out
* Impose special laws on managing migrant workers
* Improve labour conditions in Taiwan
| methods = [[Protest]], [[Internet activism]]
| status = Protest ended
| concessions = The Government continued to import migrant workers, but agreed to slow down its speed
}}
On 3 December 2023, 100 individuals took part in a protest named {{lang|zh|守護民主台灣大遊行 123別印來}} ({{lit|A Great Protest of Protecting Taiwan: 123 Don't Come In}}) in [[Taiwan]], which called for a halt to the importation of [[Labour in India#Migrant labours|Indian migrant workers]]. The protest took place during the discussion of a [[memorandum of understanding]] between [[Taiwan]] and [[India]], which would allow Taiwan to import [[Labour in India#Migrant labours|Indian migrant workers]] to address the [[labour shortage]] in Taiwan caused by its [[ageing of Taiwan|ageing population]].<ref name=":3" /> The MOU would allow Taiwan to hire up to 100,000 Indian workers. The news coverage of the MOU provoked backlash on the Internet, which led to the protest. It was the first protest in Taiwan specifically against migrant worker imports.

Initially, the Taiwanese government characterised the protest as the result of [[cognitive warfare]], but later promised to strengthen communication and proceed with the policy incrementally. Media outlets and experts have expressed concern about the discriminatory nature of the stereotypes driving the protest. Other commentators have suggested that [[Chinese information operations and information warfare|disinformation campaigns]] linked to the [[China|People's Republic of China]] contributed to the protest.

==Background==
[[File:Memorandum of understanding between The Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in New Delhi, India and The India Taipei Association on the facilitation of employment of Indian workers.pdf|thumb|Memorandum of understanding between The Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in New Delhi, India and The India Taipei Association on the facilitation of employment of Indian workers]]
Due to a [[labour shortage]], Taiwan began importing [[migrant worker#Asia|migrant workers]] from the 1980s. In 1992, the "Employment Service Act" ({{lang|zh|就業服務法}}) and its corresponding regulations were enacted to provide a legal framework for employing migrant workers. Following this, Taiwanese employers started hiring migrant workers as part of their regular workforce.<ref>{{cite web |title=移工與外籍勞工的差異？從零接觸移工議題的你，一定要看！ |url=https://one-forty.org/tw/blog/migrant-statistics-in-taiwan |website=社團法人台灣四十分之一移工教育文化協會 |accessdate=2025-06-25}}</ref> Migrant workers often work in Taiwan as [[Migrant caregivers in Taiwan|caregivers]], [[construction workers]], [[factory workers]], [[farmworkers]], [[lumberjacks]], and [[fisherman|fishers]]. The main source countries for migrant workers in Taiwan are [[Indonesia]], the [[Philippines]], [[Thailand]], and [[Vietnam]]. Before 2023, the latest source country that Taiwan opened to migrant workers was [[Mongolia]] in 2004.<ref name="opinioncw" /><ref name="twreporter" />

With a fertility rate below [[sub-replacement fertility|replacement level]], Taiwan's labour force has been declining recently. This, combined with [[ageing of Taiwan|ageing population]], has caused the demand for migrant workers to continue to rise. [[Labour shortage]] has become a significant issue for Taiwanese industries. Taiwan remains heavily reliant on Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, to source migrant workers from. In contrast, other developed Asian countries have a more diverse range of source countries. For example, [[Japan]] and [[South Korea]] source migrant workers from more than 10 countries, and both have reformed their immigration policies to attract foreign labour.<ref name="opinioncw" /><ref name=b /> Taiwan has previously attempted to develop migrant worker sourcing agreements with [[Bangladesh]], [[Cambodia]], and [[Myanmar]]. However, these efforts failed due to [[political status of Taiwan|Taiwan's political status]].<ref name="opinioncw" /> Meanwhile, India, the [[List of countries and dependencies by population|most populous country in the world]], faced the challenge of high unemployment due to the size of [[List of countries by labour force|its labour force]].<ref name=b>{{cite news | last1=Sen | first1=Sudhi Ranjan | last2=Srivastava | first2=Shruti | last3=Hou | first3=Betty | title=India Plans Taiwan Labor Supply Pact While China Tensions Brew | work=[[Bloomberg News]] | date=2023-11-10 | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-10/india-plans-taiwan-labor-supply-pact-while-china-tensions-brew#xj4y7vzkg | accessdate=2023-11-27 | archive-date=2024-02-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215040608/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-10/india-plans-taiwan-labor-supply-pact-while-china-tensions-brew#xj4y7vzkg }}</ref> India and Taiwan, therefore, sought to resolve their respective issues through a mutual agreement.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=印度可望成新移工來源國家總期待補充照服人力|work=中央社|date=2023-09-28|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202309280134.aspx|author=吳欣紜、曾以寧|language=zh-tw|accessdate=2023-11-27|archive-date=2023-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127112945/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202309280134.aspx}}</ref><ref name="opinioncw">{{cite news |author1=劉苑杉 |title=印度移工什麼時候進來？台印簽署MOU後，你需要釐清的幾個爭議點 |url=https://opinion.cw.com.tw/blog/profile/31/article/14811 |accessdate=2025-06-24 |publisher=[[天下雜誌]] |date=2024-11-15}}</ref>

On 12 September 2023, [[Chen Chien-jen]], then [[Premier of the Republic of China]], met with {{ill|Manharsinh Laxmanbhai Yadav|zh|葉達夫}}, then director general of the [[India-Taipei Association]]. They agreed to sign two [[memoranda of understanding]] on migration, mobility and traditional medicine.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last1=Laskar |first1=Rezaul H |title=Taiwan, India to seal pact on migration to overcome Taipei's shortage of workers |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/taiwan-india-to-sign-pact-on-migration-to-overcome-taipei-s-shortage-of-workers-101695738135671.html |access-date=27 June 2025 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=26 Sep 2023}}</ref> [[Arindam Bagchi]], then [[Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs]], said the MOU would benefit both sides. The agreement was expected to be finalised by the end of 2023, according to Chen.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |last1=Leskovsky |first1=Filip |title=Taiwan and India to sign MOU on labor cooperation - Rti |url=https://en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2010264 |access-date=27 June 2025 |work=RTI Radio Taiwan International |date=10 November 2023 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref> In November 2023, negotiations of a mutual pact were almost complete, which would allow Taiwan to hire up to 100,000 Indian workers, according to a senior official quoted by [[Bloomberg News]]. The report also noted that the agreement would potentially anger China, which has long-standing geopolitical tensions with both Taiwan and India.<ref name=b/><ref>{{cite news | last1=Sen | first1=Sudhi Ranjan | last2=Srivastava | first2=Shruti | last3=Hou | first3=Betty | title=India Plans Taiwan Labor Supply Pact While China Tensions Brew | work=[[Bloomberg News]] | date=2023-11-10 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/taiwan-set-to-hire-1-lakh-indian-workers-india-taiwan-pact-india-china-relations/articleshow/105118104.cms |accessdate=2025-06-27 |via=The Times of India }}</ref>

==Protest==
After the Bloomberg news report, a rumour that Taiwan would hire 100,000 Indian workers spread on Taiwanese social networks [[Dcard]] and [[PTT Bulletin Board System|PTT]]. Reasons for opposition to the pact include concern that Indian migrant workers may affect local security due to perceptions that [[Rape in India|sexual assault and murder are highly prevalent in India]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-11-25|title=專題報導／開放印度移工非缺工唯一解方三面向觀察|author=張佳琪|url=https://bccnews.com.tw/archives/503580|access-date=2023-12-04|website=中廣新聞網|language=zh-TW|archive-date=2023-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204174952/https://bccnews.com.tw/archives/503580 }}</ref> Another concern was a potential decline in working conditions.<ref name="theinitium" /><ref name="twreporter" /><ref name="opinioncw" /> Other users criticised the government for its hasty decision-making and lack of complementary measures to the policy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-11-24|title=引進印度移工引反彈？專家憂台灣還沒準備好|url=https://www.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2187646|website=中央廣播電臺|access-date=2023-12-04|archive-date=2023-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204170518/https://www.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2187646 }}</ref><ref name="theinitium" />

Media coverage noted [[racist]] stereotypes that connect Indians with sex crimes, as some users on social media labelled them as "potential rapists" and suggested that "Taiwan will become a land of rape".<ref name="IORG">{{cite news| title=「10 萬印度移工讓台灣變成性侵島」可判定為資訊操弄| work=台灣資訊環境研究中心 IORG| date=2023-11-10| url=https://iorg.tw/eval/21| language=zh-tw| accessdate=2023-11-28| archive-date=2024-02-10| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210215120/https://iorg.tw/eval/21 }}</ref><ref name="theinitium">{{cite news |author1=蕭函青 |title=右翼民粹能量暗湧，台灣反印度移工浪潮中的張力與微光 |url=https://theinitium.com/article/20231220-taiwan-oppose-indian-migrant-workers |accessdate=2025-06-24 |work=[[Initium Media]] |date=2023-12-19 |language=zh-hant |archive-date=2025-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250328020901/https://theinitium.com/article/20231220-taiwan-oppose-indian-migrant-workers }}</ref>

On 3 December 2023, a citizen activist group called "{{lang|zh|反對增加新移工國}}" ({{lit|Oppose Adding New Migrant Worker Countries}}) held a protest named "{{lang|zh|守護民主台灣大遊行 123別印來}}" ({{lit|A Great Protest of Protecting Taiwan: 123 Don't Come In}}) in [[Ketagalan Boulevard]], [[Taipei]], with four demands to the government, including "stop adding new migrant worker countries", "provide an effective platform for people to speak out", "impose special laws on managing migrant workers", and "improve labour conditions". The protest, which included approximately one hundred participants, was organised by social media user Yuna. Yuna emphasised that doubts about Indian workers and the protest's demands were gathered from [[Dcard]] and [[Line (software)|Line]]. It was the first protest in Taiwan against the importation of migrant workers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-12-03|title=民團上凱道提4訴求籲暫緩新增移工來源國|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202312030123.aspx|author=張雄風|access-date=2023-12-04|website=中央社 CNA|language=zh-Hant-TW|archive-date=2023-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211181021/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202312030123.aspx}}</ref><ref name="twreporter" /><ref name="theinitium" />

On 10 December, {{ill|Taiwan International Workers Association|zh|台灣國際勞工協會}} held a protest called "{{lang|zh|政府承擔、仲介滾蛋}}" ({{lit|government kick in, agents kick out}}), calling on the government to lead the hiring process and abolish private agents involved in hiring migrant workers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-12-04|title=移工大遊行10日登場要求強化公立機構服務 |author=張雄風|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202312040136.aspx|access-date=2023-12-04|website=中央社|language=zh-Hant-TW|archive-date=2023-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209223812/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202312040136.aspx}}</ref><ref name="theinitium" /><ref>{{cite news|author1=張梓嘉|author2=葉霈萱|title=移工大遊行登場百人上街頭籲跨國直聘廢除私人仲介|work=公視|date=2023-12-10|url=https://news.pts.org.tw/article/670729|accessdate=2024-02-16|archive-date=2023-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226181239/https://news.pts.org.tw/article/670729}}</ref>

==Government response==
{{Further|Chinese information operations and information warfare}}
[[Hsu Ming-chun]], then [[Ministry of Labor (Taiwan)#List of ministers|Minister of Labor]], responded to the protest by stating that the claim "Taiwan will hire 100,000 Indians" was misinformation. The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] also alleged that racist feeds on social media are a part of Chinese [[Internet manipulation]], citing similar activity from other fake accounts. During the protests, traces of "modular message manipulation" ({{langx|zh|模組化留言的操作}}) appeared, according to national security departments in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite news | title=Taiwan Indian Workers News: China Spread Racism Against Indian Taiwan Hit Back With Milk Tea Alliance | work=[[Navbharat Times]] | date=2023-11-25 | url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/world/china/taiwan-indian-workers-news-china-spread-racism-against-indian-taiwan-hit-back-with-milk-tea-alliance/articleshow/105490743.cms | language=hi | accessdate=2023-11-28 | archive-date=2023-12-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204225229/https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/world/china/taiwan-indian-workers-news-china-spread-racism-against-indian-taiwan-hit-back-with-milk-tea-alliance/articleshow/105490743.cms }}</ref><ref name="theinitium" /> The official Twitter account of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs later stated that any attempts to destroy goodwill in the [[Milk Tea Alliance]] would not prevail.<ref>{{cite news | last=Banka | first=Neha | title=Taiwan's plan to hire Indian workers sees racist backlash on social media: Why Taipei has blamed China for this | work=[[indian express]] | date=2023-11-27 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/taiwans-hire-indian-workers-racist-backlash-china-9043579/ | language=en | accessdate=2023-11-28 | archive-date=2024-03-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307022239/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/taiwans-hire-indian-workers-racist-backlash-china-9043579/ }}</ref> However, protesters, rejected these assertions. Yuna denied allegations of discrimination or manipulation during the protest.<ref name="theinitium" />

In December 2023, in response to the protest, the Ministry of Labor stated that they would plan complementary measures to the policy.<ref group="Note">According to the department, complementary measures include industries that can use Indian migrant workers, quotas, migrant worker criteria, bilateral legal regulation, and importing procedures."</ref> Any introduction of new migrant workers would be a gradual process.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-12-03|title=穩健開放新來源國回應外界期待健全配套消除社會疑慮|url=https://www.wda.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=7F220D7E656BE749&sms=E9F640ECE968A7E1&s=EF1910E925F04E6E|website=勞動部勞動力發展署|access-date=2023-12-04|archive-date=2023-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204173106/https://www.wda.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=7F220D7E656BE749&sms=E9F640ECE968A7E1&s=EF1910E925F04E6E|quote=雙邊須透過工作層級會議，討論開放行業、名額、移工資格條件、雙邊法規調適及引進作業流程等配套}}</ref> On 16 February 2024, Taiwan and India signed the memorandum of understanding, agreeing that Taiwan would import migrant workers after preparations had completed.<ref name=":3">{{cite news|author=吳欣紜|title=印度移工MOU簽了勞動部：開放行業人數由台灣決定|work=中央社|date=2024-02-16|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202402160200.aspx|accessdate=2024-02-16|archive-date=2024-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225085006/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202402160200.aspx}}</ref> In November 2024, Taiwan agreed to import 1,000 Indian migrant workers to factories in Taiwan, in a test of the policy, and stated it would adjust importing policy according to the results of the test.<ref name="opinioncw" />

==Reaction==
{{Quote box
| quote = They are independent and not manipulated by others in certain kinds, and determined to prove it by resisting the labels put by authority. Their understanding of the policy, however, is often one-sided: They built a fuzzy perception from "flashing" feeds on social media, and linked it with existing stereotype labels. It is very easy to breed xenophobic activities, or even hate speech, in the emotion of fear without awareness.<ref group="Note">{{lang|zh|某種程度他們很有獨立精神，想透過反抗權威貼上的標籤，證明自己並非腦袋空空、任人操控。然而他們對議題的理解往往相對片面，透過社群媒體上「閃現」的動態消息成為一個模模糊糊的印象，再將這樣的印象與（刻板）標籤進行連結。因此，容易在恐懼的情緒孳生成排外的行動，或發表赤裸裸的歧視言論而不自覺。}}</ref>
| source = Comment from the reporter reporting the protest on the ''[[Initium Media]]'' <ref name="theinitium" />
| width = 22em
}}

According to media coverage, many Indians found the protest offensive and discriminatory. Priya Lee Lalwani,<ref name="twreporter" /> an Indian resident of Taiwan since 1987, expressed disappointment with the demonstration, stating that it stemmed from a misunderstanding between Taiwanese and Indian communities. The Taiwan Association for India Studies ({{lang|zh|臺灣印度研究協會}}) issued a statement expressing regret over instances of hate speech and the limited understanding of Indian society and culture within Taiwan. Yuna, the organiser of the protest, revised the protest demands after being made aware of the response of Indians to the protest.<ref name="theinitium" /><ref name="twreporter">{{Cite web|date=2023-12-04|author1=許詩愷|title=暌違20年再開國門，歧視移工爭議風波如何因印度再現？|url=https://www.twreporter.org/a/oppose-introducing-indian-migrant-workers|access-date=2025-06-25|website=報導者|archive-date=2025-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325082607/https://www.twreporter.org/a/oppose-introducing-indian-migrant-workers}}</ref>

On the other hand, Sun Chi-pen ({{lang|zh|孫治本}}), then executive of the Taiwan-India Association ({{lang|zh|台灣印度協會}}), observed that many protesters were concerned about [[Labour in Taiwan|labour conditions in Taiwan]] and distrusted the [[Presidency of Tsai Ing-wen|government]]. Sun also suggested that the government should strengthen communication and formulate and improve complementary measures to the policy.<ref name="twreporter" />

{{ill|Sriparna Pathak|qid=Q47489030}}, Associate Professor of China Studies at [[O.P. Jindal Global University]], described racist feeds on social media as "malicious propaganda" in her [[NDTV]] column, and criticised this content for ignoring [[rape in Taiwan|sexual crimes in Taiwan]]. She also suggested that stereotypes against Indians may be spread as a part of Chinese misinformation campaigns, citing ''[[China Times|China Times'<nowiki/>]]'' media coverage as evidence.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Sriparna |last1=Pathak |title=Opinion: Racism, Disinformation Cast Shadow On India-Taiwan Cooperation |url=https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/racism-disinformation-cast-shadow-on-india-taiwan-cooperation-4579209 |accessdate=2025-06-25 |work=www.ndtv.com |date=2023-11-16 |language=en}}</ref> Fact checks by {{ill|Taiwan FactCheck Center|zh|台灣事實查核中心}} and {{ill|Taiwan Information Environment Research Center|qid=Q135079296}} were also underway at the time.<ref>{{cite news|title=【錯誤】網傳「全世界都不敢招印度工人」？|work=台灣事實查核中心|date=2023-11-22|url=https://tfc-taiwan.org.tw/articles/9920|language=zh-tw|accessdate=2023-11-28|archive-date=2023-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209060627/https://tfc-taiwan.org.tw/articles/9920}}</ref><ref name="IORG" /> According to [[NHK]], most protesters were influentially made aware of the memorandum of understanding by posts on [[Dcard]]; often these posts used the mainland China dialect instead of the Taiwanese dialect. NHK also discussed the possibility of cognitive warfare, citing the quick spread of rumours and misinformation on [[Dcard]] and [[Twitter]].<ref>{{cite news|title=調査報道新世紀 File6 中国・流出文書を追う|work=NHK|date=2024-10-20|url=https://www.nhk.jp/p/special/ts/2NY2QQLPM3/episode/te/GNM1LMZGJ5/|accessdate=2024-10-21|archive-date=2024-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921124624/https://www.nhk.jp/p/special/ts/2NY2QQLPM3/episode/te/GNM1LMZGJ5/|language=ja}}</ref>

{{ill|Pei-chia Lan|qid=Q112507896}}, Professor of Sociology at [[National Taiwan University]] and a researcher of migrant labour in Taiwan, mentioned the tendency of Taiwanese individuals to [[sexualization|sexualise]] foreigners and the legacy of the {{ill|2023 Taiwanese MeToo movement|zh|2023年臺灣＃MeToo運動}} in increasing the participation of women in the protest. {{ill|Yoyo Yu|zh|尤芷薇}}, a former journalist stationed in India, said the environment that can develop [[rape in India]] cannot be reproduced in countries where migrant workers reside. <ref name="twreporter" /> Both Karen Hsu ({{lang|zh|徐瑞希}}), founder of the Global Worker's Organization ({{lang|zh|台灣外籍工作者發展協會}}), and Yoyo Yu, emphasise the impact of [[mass media in Taiwan]] in constructing stereotypes of Indians and promoting hate speech.<ref name="theinitium" /><ref name="twreporter" />

== See also ==
* [[I-Soon leak]]
* [[India–Taiwan relations]]
* [[2024 United Kingdom riots]]
* [[Irish anti-immigration protests]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{facebook|61553474440335|反對增加新移工國}}
* [https://www.wda.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=31&s=15150 臺印度勞工合作備忘錄勞動部今送請立法院查照]
** [https://nws.wda.gov.tw/Download.ashx?u=LzAwMS9VcGxvYWQvMS9SZWxGaWxlLzEwMzA2LzE1MTUwLzExMzA0MDPnmbzlsZXnvbLmlrDogZ7nqL8o6ZmE5Lu2KV%2fjgIzpp5DljbDluqblj7DljJfntpPmv5%2fmlofljJbkuK3lv4PoiIfljbDluqblj7DljJfljZTmnIPkv4PpgLLlg7HnlKjljbDluqbli57lt6Xnnq3op6Plgpnlv5jpjITjgI3lvbHmnKwucGRm&n=MTEzMDQwM%2beZvOWxlee9suaWsOiBnueovyjpmYTku7YpX%2bOAjOmnkOWNsOW6puWPsOWMl%2be2k%2ba%2fn%2baWh%2bWMluS4reW%2fg%2biIh%2bWNsOW6puWPsOWMl%2bWNlOacg%2bS%2fg%2bmAsuWDseeUqOWNsOW6puWLnuW3peeereino%2bWCmeW%2fmOmMhOOAjeW9seacrC5wZGY%3d 駐印度台北經濟文化中心與印度台北協會促進僱用印度勞工瞭解備忘錄]

[[Category:2023 protests]]
[[Category:India–Taiwan relations]]
[[Category:Migrant workers]]
[[Category:December 2023 in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Anti-Indian sentiment in Asia]]
[[Category:Chinese information operations and information warfare]]
[[Category:Immigration to Taiwan]]

2023 Taiwanese anti Indian migrant worker protest - Revision history

Roamingindian at 20:03, 10 January 2026