The ECCT's Better Living committee was a co-organiser of a discussion on the topic of immigration and Taiwan's future and what it means to be Taiwanese. The event was hosted by Crossroads Taiwan, CommonWealth Magazine & Wordcorp and featured remarks and presentations by a number of speakers, beginning with David Chang, Secretary-general of Crossroads and Founder of Wordcorp, legislators, immigrants from several countries, as well as a roundtable discussion with moderators Liu Kwang-yin, Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine and Tim Berge, General Manager of ICRT & Co-chair of the Better Living committee.

It was the first in a series of planned events co-organised by Crossroads, CommonWealth Magazine, and Wordcorp, exploring Taiwan's relationship with its international community.  Through sharing stories of new and long-term immigrants from various cultural and professional backgrounds, the purpose of the event was to re-examine modern Taiwanese identity and assess current naturalisation and integration processes.

By 2070, Taiwan's population is projected to drop from 23.4 million to 15-17 million, with nearly half (46%) being elderly individuals above the age of 65. As Taiwan's population continues to shrink and age, this trend is already causing a talent shortage across industries and straining social security systems, raising serious implications for national development and economic security.

In recent years, the government has increasingly turned to immigration to help reverse this trend, focusing on new immigration pathways and services. With approximately 891,000 immigrants already in Taiwan, including around 36,000 permanent residents, a comprehensive solution for long-term talent cultivation and population growth requires a reasonable pathway for the naturalization and integration of long-term immigrants and their children and for disability rights for disabled immigrants.

In his opening speech, David Chang explained the purpose of Crossroads and its mission and campaigns to provide a reasonable pathway for the naturalization and integration of long-term immigrants and their children.

In a recorded speech, Legislator Wang Ting-yu expressed his view of the obligation to take care of long-term residents who become disabled, not just through charity organisations, but by the government, backed by legislation. This is not only a moral imperative but, in addition to efforts to increase Taiwan's birth rate, immigration is another way to address Taiwan's shrinking and ageing population. It is also important considering the fact that Taiwan is competing for talent with other countries.

Legislators Loh Mei-ling and Chen Kuan-ting, who are both members of the LY's Foreign and National Defence Committee and Legislator Sean Liao, Member of the LY's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, spoke about the importance of immigrants to Taiwan's future.

Sam Khan, Sales & Marketing Director at Thrutek Applied Materials, said that he was one of the first people to receive a Gold Card and later, to become an ROC citizen. He came to Taiwan for work but later got married, raised a family, bought a house and, last year, for the first time, voted in an election. However, he said that the process was difficult. He had to renounce his original citizenship and faced many bureaucratic hurdles. He was one of many people that was close to being left stateless during the application process. Having to renounce one's original citizenship, he said, is a choice that no one should have to face, which is why he is joining others in advocating for an easier path to dual nationality. One of the many problems of Taiwan's current legal framework is that children born to foreign parents in Taiwan automatically receive the nationality of their parents. When applying for ROC citizenship for his daughter, who was born in Taiwan, he faced absurd hurdles, such as being required to provide proof that his infant daughter was single and had no criminal record. According to the current law, she has to renounce her current citizenship and cannot do so until the age of 18.

Hu Yu-feng, Social Worker at Taitung County New Immigrants Parental Care Association, gave the perspective of a Vietnamese spouse who had to endure much prejudice and discrimination during her life in Taiwan.

Elias Ek, Founder & CEO of Enspyre gave his perspective as an immigrant entrepreneur from Sweden.

Shih Bao-li, Chairwoman of Taitung County New Immigrant Family Care Association, gave the perspective of a spouse from China.

Roma Mehta, Partner & Creative Director of Sir Speedy spoke about some of the difficulties and annoyances facing foreigners living and working in Taiwan, such as not being able to apply for a loan or get a credit card with a Taiwanese guarantor.

Manav Mehta, General Manager of Red Room Rendezvous, spoke about some of the difficulties and inconveniences of growing up in Taiwan as the child of immigrants. Despite being born in Taiwan, he is not really recognised as Taiwanese. He was allowed to stay in Taiwan on a student visa but after he completed his studies he had to apply for a work permit.

Lloyd G. Roberts III, Public Relations Manager at Eiger, introduced some progress made by the ECCT's Better Living committee as well as some of the chamber's recommendations on equal treatment and dual nationality.

The event concluded with a Q&A panel discussion, which included numerous questions from the audience.