Taiwanese Politician Under Fire For Anti-India Billboard Featuring Tricolour, Turbaned Man

Last Updated:May 19, 2026, 16:38 IST

The campaign material was put up by Lee Hung-yi, a ward chief who is contesting November’s city council election as an independent candidate.

A local politician in Taiwan has come under heavy criticism after a campaign billboard opposing Indian migrant workers sparked accusations of racism and discrimination online.

The billboard, displayed in Kaohsiung’s Siaogang District, showed a large “no" symbol placed over India’s national flag and the image of a turbaned man. Photos and videos of the advertisement quickly spread across social media, where many users described it as offensive and hateful.

The campaign material was put up by Lee Hung-yi, a ward chief who is contesting November’s city council election as an independent candidate. Although he belongs to the Taiwan People’s Party, he is not officially running under the party banner.

Speaking to Taiwanese media outlet CNA, Lee defended the billboard and said he was not against migrant workers in general. However, he claimed he opposed Taiwan’s policy to allow more workers from India, arguing that the plan lacked proper management measures and support systems. He did not provide further details.

The billboard has triggered a wider debate on social media over immigration policy and racial prejudice. Users argued that the use of Indian national symbols and Sikh imagery crossed the line from political messaging into racial targeting.

Some users also questioned why Indians were being singled out despite the relatively small Indian population in Taiwan. Others noted that migrant workers from countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia make up a far larger share of Taiwan’s foreign workforce.

“Only 3500 to 4000 Indians work in Taiwan while people from countries like Vietnam and Indonesia go there in large numbers. They are spreading propaganda against Indians just to get votes," a user wrote.

One user wrote that such incidents had become so common that racism against Indians no longer shocked them. “As an Indian these things used to affect me but now this kind of hate and vile racism so common and happens so often that now I don’t really feel anything, actually if now someone says good things about Indians, it feels weird to me."

A user expressed surprise given the friendly ties between Indians and Taiwanese communities abroad, especially in the US, where both groups often live and work closely together.

“It’s shocking too because India never occupied Taiwan unlike Dutch, Japanese or Qing dynasty. I guess misinformation via online. Whatever the people of Taiwan prefer – I support that. I know eventually China will reunify with Taiwan."

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