Foreign Laborers Better off than Mainland Brides in Taiwan

Because Taiwan authorities do not consider mainland brides either Taiwanese nor foreigners, Chinese brides from the mainland are subject to treatment worse than foreign laborers in Taiwan. The newest issue of the Taiwan magazine Yazhou Zhoukan describes the situation of a mainland bride in Taiwan.

Mr. Hsieh is an assistant general manager at an IT company. Six years ago, he was sent by his company to work in Guandong, where he met Xie Zhenghua. At the time, she was his assistant and later, became his wife. After dating for two years, they married in 1996.

The next year, Mr. Hsieh brought his new wife back to Taiwan, thinking that she could enter without any problem. But the local government told him that his wife had to enter the waiting list. In October 1997, they applied to the Mainland Affairs Council and was notified that Mrs. Hsieh would have to wait until ’97. But upon further examination, the notice said “ROC ‘97” or 2008. It was then that Mr. Hsieh understood the price of being a mainland bride.

Later, the authorities increased the annual quota of Chinese wives from 1800 to 3600, meaning Mrs. Hsieh now only had to wait until 2002 before she could legally stay in Taiwan. She will have to reside in Taiwan for two years before she becomes a citizen.

Mr. Hsieh angrily says that foreign laborers can legally stay in Taiwan for one year and extend that term for another year. Foreign bridges can become citizens after one and a half years. But because the local government doesn't consider mainland brides Taiwanese nor foreigners, the mainland brides have to wait longer than foreign laborers.

Mrs. Hsieh says that mainland brides in Taiwan do not have any form of identification except for a slip of paper that she has entered Taiwan. But, she says this “entry doesn't prove anything.” She is unable to go to the post office to pick up registered mail because she doesn’t have any proof of identity.

Taiwan regulations state that mainland brides can only visit Taiwan once every six months for three months and extend their period of stay for another three months. They are not allowed to work in Taiwan and do not have labor insurance, health insurance or any other social welfare. Thus, Mrs. Hsieh who has a bachelors degree in economics can only stay at home. During this period, she has become an "astronaut" a term used to describe people who shuttle back and forth between Taiwan and the mainland, in her case.

The couple have one child who must constantly get used to the father not being there. "Right when our child adapts to life over here, we must go back to the mainland and when he gets used to life over there, we come back to Taiwan," says Mrs. Hsieh.

However, after July 1, mainland spouses will be allowed to stay in Taiwan for one year, which should solve many of the Hsieh's problems.

Mrs. Hsieh says that she is used to living in Taiwan but there are many restrictions on her lifestyle. She cannot communicate with other people, not because of a language barrier, but because “once you make a mistake, you will be deported, so I have to be very careful. If I don't come in contact with anyone, I won't make any mistakes. This is the safest method." Mr. Hsieh describes his wife's predicament as "a prisoner without a prison".

People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/