Taiwan: Sex in the city

In July, the Taiwanese parliament passed a controversial draft bill allowing the establishment of red light districts. The bill allows sex to be sold openly in designated ‘special sex trade’ zones but will punish offenders outside of these zones.

Regulating and managing the industry is creating fiery public debate and although 75 per cent of Taiwanese support a more liberal approach to prostitution, it appears no one wants it in their ‘own backyard’. All 22 local government mayors have spoken out against introducing legal red light districts in their cities.

On this edition of 101 East, we ask if legalising the world’s oldest profession can help clean up Taiwan’s sex industry.