The campaign poster was displayed on Shanming Road in the Siaogang District of Kaohsiung. Among several promises listed on the billboard was a “no” symbol placed over an image of a turbaned man alongside an inverted Indian flag, signalling opposition to Indian immigration into Taiwan.
The issue gained international attention after Malaysian journalist and writer Ian Miles Cheong shared a video from a Taiwanese news channel on X, formerly known as Twitter. The clip featured reactions from Indian-origin residents living in Taiwan, many of whom described the sign as offensive and unwelcoming.
One resident, identified as Mrs. V, said in the interview that the billboard was “really unfriendly” toward Indians and argued that such a public display promoted racism. She also expressed hope that the sign would eventually be removed.
The reporter in the video pointed out that the image used in the poster specifically depicted a Sikh man wearing a turban, noting that the turban is associated with followers of Sikhism rather than representing all Indians. Critics argued that the imagery reinforced stereotypes and stigma surrounding migrant workers.
Despite the criticism, Lee Hung-yi defended the campaign poster and refused to take it down. Speaking to the local news channel, the candidate said the sign clearly represented his opposition to the introduction of Indian migrant workers and maintained that everyone was entitled to their own opinion.
Ian Miles Cheong captioned the viral clip by claiming that many Taiwanese citizens were not particularly supportive of Indian immigration and highlighted the candidate’s pledge to block Indians from entering the country.
The incident sparked heated reactions on social media. Some users expressed sympathy for Indians living in Taiwan and condemned the poster as blatant racism, while others questioned why Indians continued to migrate abroad despite facing discrimination.
One social media user wrote that anti-Indian racism had become so common that positive remarks about Indians now felt unusual. Another user argued that Indians formed only a very small portion of Taiwan’s migrant workforce and accused politicians of spreading anti-Indian sentiment for electoral gains.
Others criticised the legality and morality of the campaign material, with some questioning how such messaging could be publicly displayed in a democratic society.
The controversy comes at a time when Taiwan is attempting to address a growing labour shortage caused by an ageing population and declining birth rate. To fill workforce gaps, the Taiwanese government has increasingly relied on migrant workers from countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand.
In February 2024, India and Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) allowing the limited recruitment of Indian workers for sectors such as manufacturing and construction. Under the initial pilot programme, Taiwan proposed bringing in around 1,000 Indian workers.
However, the proposal faced strong opposition within Taiwan. More than 40,000 people reportedly signed an online petition urging the government to halt the plan, reflecting growing tensions around immigration and labour policies in the country.
