Home Blog Shared House Guide Do Foreigners Face Discrimination in Taiwan? What to Expect Living Abroad
Let's be honest whenever we go to a new country anywhere around the world there is a risk of safety and a majority of the fear for personal safety can come from discrimination, how your personal background is perceived in a given region. We want to know what does this country think about people like me and how would they react behave. As westerners from Europe America, south america and Latin america we know that Asian country are some of the most homogeneous countries by percentage of population . When people plan a move to East Asia, Taiwan and Japan are almost always compared side-by-side. Both islands are celebrated globally for high safety, exceptional public transit, rich food cultures, and deep-seated societal politeness.
However, ask long-term expats who have lived in both countries, and a more complex picture emerges. Beneath the surface-level hospitality lies a shared challenge that almost every foreigner faces: microaggressions, double standards, and the feeling that no matter how long you stay, you remain an "eternal outsider."
Understanding how subtle discrimination and social barriers operate in Taiwan versus Japan can help you navigate life on the island with realistic expectations and protect your mental health.
Firstly to address the question of discrimination and racism,personal safety when you come to Taiwan . Taiwan is really safe and Taipei was ranked top 3 worldwide for safety and the many positive stories of many foreigner from all over the world from south east Asian , american, Europeans and Australians can attest to this.many people who come here are more shocked at how a county can be this safe, and the very low risk of discrimination is a big part of that so you wouldn't have to worry . However we live in flawed world and of course there are problems everywhere and the problems you encounter will depend on your personal background.
lets take a look at another highly sought after Asian country , Japan. While both societies value harmony and social order, the way locals interact with foreigners differs significantly in daily life.
The inspiration for this blog is thanks to a recent conversation i had with a group of friends , a European female mention she lived in japan for nearly a decade plus living in Taiwan for 5 years equal nearly 15 years in Asia, she has had so much experience living abroad. she said she prefers Taiwan since feeling more welcome here is one reason, when she mention japan infamous , foreigner phobia, everyone else chimed in with agreement, even those who may have visited there. this idea seems to be famous worldwide , japan seeming fear of foreigners which leads to some problems and feeling people have of living there. With Taiwan being so close to japan you might be thinking is this the same here.
[ Japan ] ➔ High-Distance Politeness (Gaijin Bubble) ➔ Hard Outer Social Shell
[ Taiwan ] ➔ Low-Distance Hospitality (Ke-qi / 客氣) ➔ Soft Outer Exterior, Selective Inner Core In Japan, politeness (Omotenashi) is highly formalized. While customer service is flawless, social interactions with foreigners are often governed by strict distance.
The "Gaijin" Effect: Foreigners in Japan often report living in an invisible bubble. Locals may avoid sitting next to you on a train or hesitate to speak to you out of anxiety about breaking social etiquette or failing at English.
Institutional Gatekeeping: Navigating apartment rentals, opening bank accounts, or securing credit cards as a foreigner in Japan often involves strict, unyielding bureaucratic hurdles.
Taiwan is famously warm and informal. Strangers will go out of their way to help you find a subway line or recommend a local bento shop.
The Surface Appeal: The initial transition to Taiwan feels far softer than in Japan. People are approachable, and daily interactions feel relaxed.
The "Ke-qi" (客氣) Boundary: Taiwanese culture heavily emphasizes politeness and avoiding conflict. However, helpfulness is not the same as deep social acceptance. Once you move past basic surface-level interactions, penetrating local social circles without fluent Mandarin presents a real barrier.
Discrimination in both East Asian contexts rarely manifests as direct confrontation or overt hostility thats why safety in these countries are so world renowned .But to locals this absence of violence might make them believe that they are welcoming when we know that that not the only way discrimiation manifest Instead, it can appears as subtle microaggressions and institutional double standards or simple isolation.
No matter how many years you pay taxes in Taiwan or Japan, or how fluent your language skills become, you are constantly treated as a temporary visitor. the said European female speaks Japanese at a professional level so her lack of language ability is not a problem. Comments like "Your Chinese/Japanese is so good!" in response to simple greetings can be well-intention, but over time, they serve as a constant reminder: you are not from here.
Expats do not experience discrimination equally. Both Taiwan and Japan harbor unspoken racial and national hierarchies:
Western / White Expats: Often experience "hyper-visibility" and privilege—receiving default assumptions of wealth, English teaching dominance, or unearned social leniency.
Southeast Asian, Latin American, Indian & Black Residents: Frequently face harsher scrutiny, rental rejections ("Only renting to locals"), racial profiling, or assumptions of being low-wage labor.
Sometimes, what feels like outright rejection—a store clerk ignoring you or a landlord refusing to show an apartment—is driven by fear of language failure. In both cultures, the anxiety of not being able to communicate smoothly leads locals to avoid the interaction altogether rather than risk an uncomfortable moment.language is the ultimate cheat code for feeling less like a outsider, it can't erase everything of course especially if your physical appearance is different from locals but speaking mandarin/ chinese in taiwan while lower the barrier people have when talking to you and give them a chance to know you which most discrimination stems from lack of understanding.
Experiencing microaggressions or feeling excluded can lead to expat burnout. Here is how long-term residents maintain their perspective and build a meaningful life in Taiwan:
Validate Your Lived Experience: Don't let people gaslight you with "But locals are so friendly!" Acknowledging that structural bias and social barriers exist doesn't mean you dislike Taiwan—it means you are engaging with the country as a real place rather than a tourist postcard. this goes for both good and bad comments on Reddit, threads and Facebook forums , while some foreigners might go to a country and then come away with less than positive experience than then becomes the idea that many other foreigners use as judgement on a country other people will have great experiences so it's up to you to study abroad /live abroad and validate your own experience.
Recognize the "Peach vs. Coconut" Model: Taiwan is like a peach—soft and accessible on the outside, but with a hard inner core that takes time and shared experiences to penetrate.
Build an Intentional Community: Trying to force full local integration without a social safety net leads to exhaustion. You need third places—co-living hubs, international lounges, hiking groups, or interest-based clubs—where you can relax, speak openly, and connect with peers who understand your journey.
Navigating a new culture—with all its incredible highs and occasional frustrations—is far easier when you aren't doing it alone. Having a home base filled with supportive housemates and an international community gives you an instant anchor in the city.stay at taiwan share house and find great community to start living in taiwan.
Looking for a space where you can belong from Day 1? Join us at SOFA for our weekly community meetups, language exchanges, and open lounge nights!
