TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A renowned doctor responded to Lai Pei-hsia's renunciation of U.S. citizenship by stating that Taiwan's lighter healthcare and tax burdens outweigh the advantages of U.S. citizenship in his Friday (Nov. 24) Facebook post.
The statement comes after entertainer Lai decided to give up her U.S. citizenship to become the running mate for independent candidate Terry Gou in Taiwan's vice-presidential election.
As the "Gou-Lai ticket" failed to qualify for the race, many online users in Taiwan dubbed Lai as the election's biggest loser.
Chiang Kuan-yu of Taipei City Hospital noted that numerous elderly Americans choose to return to Taiwan later in life, citing superior elderly care and more familial support compared to the U.S., where incapacitated seniors often do not survive beyond three years.
Chiang portrayed Taiwan as "a paradise for the elderly, a promised land for retirement," touting it as an ideal destination for a comfortable and supported aging experience.
Questioning the true loss incurred by Lai in relinquishing her American nationality, Chiang argued that the significance of retaining U.S. citizenship diminishes once one's children are independent.