Untapped supporters
The number of foreign workers in Taiwan reached 858,000 by September last year, Ministry of Labor data showed. By the end of 2024, foreign workers accounted for 75.1 percent of foreign residents. With 60,000 overseas Chinese and foreign students on work-study programs, 49,000 foreign professionals and 35,000 foreign technicians, the total number of foreign nationals in Taiwan exceeded 1 million.
Indonesia is the biggest source of foreign nationals in Taiwan, followed by the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. These foreign workers often serve as the breadwinners of their families back home, so they are able to influence their family members’ international views.
The Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Economic Affairs address the domestic labor shortage for businesses by seeking to bring in more foreign workers in an industry-oriented mindset, while protecting their labor rights. The government should recognize the political influence of such workers as a crucial resource for our diplomatic efforts.
As China, which hinders Taiwan’s diplomatic efforts, lacks the advantage and quantity of employing foreign workers compared with Taiwan, government agencies should attach greater importance to this kind of strength, and better utilize this million-strong foreign workforce to assist international diplomacy.
I have some recommendations.
First, through open bidding, the government can establish public-owned, private-operated Indonesian, Vietnamese and Thai-language radio and TV stations, to promote government policies and regulations, and health education and epidemic prevention. Such foreign language media could directly communicate with foreign nationals in Taiwan, while promoting government policies regarding foreigners and Taiwan’s national sovereignty.
Second, hold regular activities using the name “Taiwan,” such as seminars on topics like Taiwan’s electoral system, its status under international law, an analysis of cross-strait relations, and Taiwanese history, culture and other national sovereignty-related issues. That would help foreigners in Taiwan understand the nation’s position and predicament regarding its international status, and turn them into supporters for Taiwan back home.
Last, supporting foreign Internet personalities or media figures from abroad in Taiwan with government resources could promote Taiwan’s political and sovereign status, and influence or correct public opinion in their home countries, opening a “second channel” for diplomacy.
As the government tries to boost “citizen diplomacy,” it should also plan for the use of the million-strong army already among us. Apart from supplementing labor, they could help expand diplomatic relations. Turn these workers — along with those arriving and departing in rotation annually — into seeds of Taiwan’s diplomacy to plant across the globe.
Hsu Yu-ming
Taipei
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