Age of Consent in Taiwan

Sex with a child under 14 carries three to ten years in prison (Criminal Code, Article 227), and sex with a 14- or 15-year-old up to seven years (Article 227). Indecent acts carry six months to five years under 14, and up to three years at 14 or 15. Attempts are punished too. Some sites list Taiwan's age as 14 because the harsher penalty tier stops there, but sex with a 14- or 15-year-old is still a crime.

Taiwan's peer rule turns on the offender's age alone. If the offender is 18 or younger, the court must reduce or waive the sentence (Article 227-1), and if they're under 18 the case needs a formal complaint (Article 229-1). There's no maximum age gap, and no exemption for anyone older than 18.

For anything paid, the line is 18. An adult who pays a 16- or 17-year-old for sex or lewd acts faces up to three years in prison, detention or a fine of up to NT$100,000 (Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act, Article 31). Paying anyone under 16 is punished under the Criminal Code's Article 227 penalties: up to seven years, or three to ten under 14 (Article 31). Arranging or recruiting a minor for paid sex carries one to seven years, or three to ten when done for profit (Article 32).

Between adults, paid sex is an administrative offence, with fines of up to NT$30,000 for both sides (Social Order Maintenance Act, Article 80).

Local governments may legislate zones where paid sex between adults is allowed, and anyone convicted of child sexual exploitation is barred from running a venue in one (Social Order Maintenance Act, Article 91-1). No city or county has even drafted such an ordinance, so no legal zone exists anywhere in Taiwan, and no local rule changes the ages above (CNEWS via Yam News).

Your own country's law travels with you. A US citizen or permanent resident who pays anyone under 18 for sex abroad, or commits a sexual act with someone under 18 that would be a federal sex crime on US federal territory, faces up to 30 years in US federal prison (18 U.S.C. § 2423). The Justice Department says the reason for the trip doesn't matter (US Department of Justice).

A UK national who does something abroad that would be a listed sexual offence in England and Wales is guilty of it there, even if it was legal where it happened (Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 72). Paying for sex with anyone under 18 is one of those offences (section 47). Canadian citizens and permanent residents who commit a listed sexual offence abroad against anyone under 18 are treated as if they did it in Canada (Criminal Code, section 7). That includes paying for sex with anyone under 18, which carries up to 14 years and at least six months for a first offence (section 286.1).

Australia draws its line at 16. Its citizens and residents face up to 25 years for sex with a child under 16 anywhere outside Australia, and sex with a 16- or 17-year-old is covered when the adult is in a position of trust or authority, such as their employer (Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 272).

Taiwan does the same for its own citizens: its child sexual exploitation law applies to Taiwanese nationals abroad, whatever the local law says (Article 52-1).

Under-18s may not enter hostess wine houses (jiujia), 'special' coffee and tea rooms, adult shops and other venues the authorities rule harmful, and managers and staff must turn them away (Child and Youth Welfare and Rights Protection Act, Article 47). Letting one in brings a fine of NT$20,000 to NT$100,000, and the manager's name is published (Article 95).

Having a minor sit with customers as a drinking hostess counts as sexual exploitation, with fines of up to NT$2 million and suspension of the business (Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act, Article 45). Under-18s may not drink, and selling them alcohol is fined (Articles 43 and 91). Tourism workers must report a suspected child victim of sexual exploitation within 24 hours (Article 7).

The 113 protection hotline takes reports of child abuse and sexual violence 24 hours a day, by phone or text from anywhere in Taiwan, and a social worker answers (Ministry of Health and Welfare). Trafficking reports go to the police on 110, the National Immigration Agency on (02) 2388-3095 or the Ministry of Labor on 1955, all 24 hours a day. The Foreigners in Taiwan hotline, 1990, answers in English around the clock (NIA hotline list). From the US, you can also report suspected child sex tourism to NCMEC's CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org or on 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day (NCMEC).