Taiwan’s Elections May Determine the Fate of Fleeing Hong Kong Protesters

The Hong Kong protests might not have influenced Taiwanese voters as much as expected, but Taiwan's election results might determine the fate of the pro-democracy protesters who have fled from the city.

The News Lens
Date: 2020/01/08
By: Timothy S. Rich, Isabel Eliassen, Madelynn Einhorn, Carolyn Brueggemann / Western Kentucky University

The Hong Kong protests presented a distinct challenge for Taiwan, as many Hong Kong protesters have fled to Taiwan. In the wake of protests, immigration from Hong Kong to Taiwan has surged 28 percent and accounted for 9.8 percent of the country’s overall immigration, nearly double the figures from 2018. 

Taiwan lacks an asylum law, providing at best ad hoc responses (e.g. “humanitarian visas”) to specific cases after public pressure, with the Mainland Affairs Council arguing the existing regulation as sufficient. Taiwanese are familiar with Chinese meddling in their own affairs, culminating most recently with the anti-infiltration law targeting Chinese efforts to spread disinformation, while also concerned that Taiwan’s future may resemble that of Hong Kong. 

However, we should be cautious in overestimating the impact of the protests on Tsai’s rising polls. 
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