Wei’s Choice: Choosing Safety & Support for Young Families Amid Tense China-Taiwan Relations

Clarissa Wei, an author and journalist based in Taiwan, reflects on her decision to move there with her husband during the pandemic despite ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan. She highlights how Taiwan has evolved from a dictatorship into a vibrant democracy over the past 30 years while contrasting it with current issues facing America such as healthcare accessibility, family-friendly policies for new parents, education systems, and gun violence against children. Wei also discusses changing perceptions of both countries among their citizens, including how Taiwanese people now view the United States less favorably due to its lack of family-friendly policies compared to Taiwan’s more supportive measures for families with young children. The article concludes by discussing the possibility of conflict between China and Taiwan and comparing it to potential political violence in America, with Wei’s father stating that former President Donald Trump is a bigger threat this year due to his unpredictability rather than Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Overall, the author suggests that while tensions remain high between China and Taiwan, day-to-day life in Taiwan seems more sensible compared to current issues facing America such as healthcare accessibility, family support systems, education systems, and gun violence against children.