I was in Terminal 2 Tiapei Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on 26 October 2018 and all American/Western food restaurants have been closed. There use to be a Burger King and Starbucks and others, but all have closed. Lots of Eva Airlines international flights use Terminal 2.

 

Is Beijing pressuring Taiwan to close all American restaurants due to trade frictions with USA and the new import duties on Chinese goods?

 

 

First, airport restaurants are huge money generating ventures.

 

Second,  it would seem normal that the locals want to make the money for themselves in place of the foreign food chains who are invading the whole world and killing diversity.

 

And third, it is always very annoying to see foreigners in Asia, behaving as if they were back home and making a fuss for having only their Starsucks coffee or insisting only for their pizza roma caca,  rather then integrating or trying out the local offers.

 

If one is fussy and only wants the same food as back at home...well stay at home !

childish behavior at best!, what is to be gained in the long run?

19 hours ago, observer90210 said:

First, airport restaurants are huge money generating ventures.

 

Second,  it would seem normal that the locals want to make the money for themselves in place of the foreign food chains who are invading the whole world and killing diversity.

 

And third, it is always very annoying to see foreigners in Asia, behaving as if they were back home and making a fuss for having only their Starsucks coffee or insisting only for their pizza roma caca,  rather then integrating or trying out the local offers.

 

If one is fussy and only wants the same food as back at home...well stay at home !

I use that terminal and EVA. "Killing diversity"? There are Chinese restaurants in that wing, pass by one every time I go down to Hello Kitty store. Have you ever considered that burgers and lattes are diversity from standard Asian fare? "Invading the whole world"? No one forces them to eat at fast food chains. Perhaps going to Western food chain is similar to Americans going to a Chinese restaurant in Sisters, Oregon. Exotic. Diverse.

I don't eat at any of those places when in transit because I'm not hungry (poor excuse, right?).

OP... That is good news.  Maybe help prevent the obesity and heart disease that comes with these fast food American 'restaurants'.  

 

 

I stay away from junk food anyway. I use the Eva Lounge which is right there.

But it would be interesting if it is because of tariffs. Though I don't think Taiwan has been hit. Could be wrong.

I could ask my Taiwanese ex-gf if really important.

2 days later and no news reports about closures.

???

1 hour ago, Emdog said:

I use that terminal and EVA. "Killing diversity"? There are Chinese restaurants in that wing, pass by one every time I go down to Hello Kitty store. Have you ever considered that burgers and lattes are diversity from standard Asian fare? "Invading the whole world"? No one forces them to eat at fast food chains. Perhaps going to Western food chain is similar to Americans going to a Chinese restaurant in Sisters, Oregon. Exotic. Diverse.

I don't eat at any of those places when in transit because I'm not hungry (poor excuse, right?).

 

 

Absolutely right,

 

And this is why Thai people race to the new openings of KFC etc up in Isaarn in the malls or stand-alone restaurants. They want to try it out as it is new and it is their idea of trying a foreign food experience. Unless they are Thai kids from the Bangkok suburbs they aren't going to be looking at eating this kind of food on a regular basis.

 

Moving now to other comments regards Taiwan, I can't really see at the moment the Taiwanese being bullied or bowing to pressure by the Chinese when they are so desperate to keep their own identity and way of life. What do US trade sanctions on China have to do with Taiwan, please?

 

 

 

 

Yep, Chinese thinking?

Just lost revenue for them. More to come. Avoid going to or having to land at that airport. I thought about going to China one time, to visit. Not anymore!!! Seen them in Thailand, that is enough for me. Where did they forget about being civilized and have some sort of manners. There civilization is thousands of years old. Yet they still do not comprehend how to do handle it in other countries properly.

34 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

 

 

Absolutely right,

 

And this is why Thai people race to the new openings of KFC etc up in Isaarn in the malls or stand-alone restaurants. They want to try it out as it is new and it is their idea of trying a foreign food experience. Unless they are Thai kids from the Bangkok suburbs they aren't going to be looking at eating this kind of food on a regular basis.

 

Moving now to other comments regards Taiwan, I can't really see at the moment the Taiwanese being bullied or bowing to pressure by the Chinese when they are so desperate to keep their own identity and way of life. What do US trade sanctions on China have to do with Taiwan, please?

 

 

 

 

Chinese think they own Taiwan. That is why you have the USA military force cruising in and between the straights of the sea. China is desperately seeking to deploy its citizens on other countries that are ripe for the pickings.

 

Take a look at Cambodia, Sihanoukville,  used to be a very nice place for locals and tourist. Now, the Cambodian gov. has given the chinese unlimited access to build multiple casinos and hotels without building permits!!!

 

Now, they are having water problems. The only lake that they had close by, they filled up, to make more room for chinese tourist. That fresh water lake has been there for eons.

 

Only chinese can go in. Not even American or anyone else. All the local people had to move away from there. Why, because its to expensive now. There own government is allowing this to happen. They don't care. As long as the the PMs and his cronies wallets are full, all is good.

 

China has big money. Asian countries that are corrupt are taking from them already. Other Asian countries soon to follow unless they have some sort of back bone.  That is the mind set of Chinese warfare. It may take hundreds of years, but that is there plan. Kind of like other religious practice I will not mention. But I think you know.

21 hours ago, observer90210 said:

First, airport restaurants are huge money generating ventures.

 

Second,  it would seem normal that the locals want to make the money for themselves in place of the foreign food chains who are invading the whole world and killing diversity.

 

And third, it is always very annoying to see foreigners in Asia, behaving as if they were back home and making a fuss for having only their Starsucks coffee or insisting only for their pizza roma caca,  rather then integrating or trying out the local offers.

 

If one is fussy and only wants the same food as back at home...well stay at home !

It is up to people to decide their food preference and if they wish to stay home, unless I am paying their way in life. Otherwise, I keep shut.

Some people, they not really looking at the Big Picture.

22 hours ago, observer90210 said:

First, airport restaurants are huge money generating ventures.

 

Second,  it would seem normal that the locals want to make the money for themselves in place of the foreign food chains who are invading the whole world and killing diversity.

 

And third, it is always very annoying to see foreigners in Asia, behaving as if they were back home and making a fuss for having only their Starsucks coffee or insisting only for their pizza roma caca,  rather then integrating or trying out the local offers.

 

If one is fussy and only wants the same food as back at home...well stay at home !

 

22 hours ago, observer90210 said:

First, airport restaurants are huge money generating ventures.

 

Second,  it would seem normal that the locals want to make the money for themselves in place of the foreign food chains who are invading the whole world and killing diversity.

 

And third, it is always very annoying to see foreigners in Asia, behaving as if they were back home and making a fuss for having only their Starsucks coffee or insisting only for their pizza roma caca,  rather then integrating or trying out the local offers.

 

If one is fussy and only wants the same food as back at home...well stay at home !

These are franchises, and locals own and operate them, not least bcause they are known the world over. Anyway, did the OP say he only' wanted to eat American food, and is it really your place to tell people to stay at home for just mentioning it ?

All the  posturing between China and Taiwan is just face-saving, too many interdependencies on both sides. I suspect the increase in number of Chinese tourists and decrease in number of Western tourists has changed the consumer demographic sufficiently to make it more profitable to serve Chinese and local food rather than Western crap. Thailand changes the same way as tourist profiles alter.

3 hours ago, rskdev said:

Yep, Chinese thinking?

Just lost revenue for them. More to come. Avoid going to or having to land at that airport. I thought about going to China one time, to visit. Not anymore!!! Seen them in Thailand, that is enough for me. Where did they forget about being civilized and have some sort of manners. There civilization is thousands of years old. Yet they still do not comprehend how to do handle it in other countries properly.

Never been to china once ?  What planet are you from. I mentioned previously the Chinese you saw in Thailand are mostly from cheap tours that capitalize on the rural and inland China. Any of the major  coastal cities in China can compare to those in the west. China has progressed by leaps and bounds both in infrastructure and social economic well being. Don’t go stereotyping anybody with your limited knowledge and exposure. Do yourself a favour and travel .... Chinese are not as inferior as you thought. I am chinese ,by the way. 

50 minutes ago, Classic Ray said:

All the  posturing between China and Taiwan is just face-saving, too many interdependencies on both sides. I suspect the increase in number of Chinese tourists and decrease in number of Western tourists has changed the consumer demographic sufficiently to make it more profitable to serve Chinese and local food rather than Western crap. Thailand changes the same way as tourist profiles alter.

Taiwan and China proper are doing their politicking the way they should. But there is tourism travel between these two countries some years now. Many mainland Chinese coming into Taiwan to visit .there are many mainland Chinese across the straits ( hokkien chinese) who had relatives in Taiwan. So ethnically, they are similar. So I agree it is only an economic decision about  terminal 2 decision. 

Why on Earth would a trade war and sanctions between China and the US have anything to do with Taiwan? You might as well suggest that a similar scenario between the US and Germany would impact Australia.

3 hours ago, rskdev said:

Yep, Chinese thinking?

Just lost revenue for them. More to come. Avoid going to or having to land at that airport. I thought about going to China one time, to visit. Not anymore!!! Seen them in Thailand, that is enough for me. Where did they forget about being civilized and have some sort of manners. There civilization is thousands of years old. Yet they still do not comprehend how to do handle it in other countries properly.

ummmm, I think this thread is about an airport in Taiwan, not China.....

Interesting. I lived in Taipei from '90-'96 before I moved to Thailand and I always considered it a de facto 51st State to the U.S.A. Taiwanese can get a 10 year US visa on their passports more easily than any other nationality that needs a visa. I was there when they opened the first Subway Sandwich Shop in Tien Mu a stone's throw from Mary's Hamburger.

They wouldn't all American, there were two noodle type shops between the BK and Starbucks. 

 

On 10/27/2018 at 3:11 PM, observer90210 said:

First, airport restaurants are huge money generating ventures.

 

Second,  it would seem normal that the locals want to make the money for themselves in place of the foreign food chains who are invading the whole world and killing diversity.

 

And third, it is always very annoying to see foreigners in Asia, behaving as if they were back home and making a fuss for having only their Starsucks coffee or insisting only for their pizza roma caca,  rather then integrating or trying out the local offers.

 

If one is fussy and only wants the same food as back at home...well stay at home !

Didn’t I see you at .... import market?  .......joking!

As long as the food offered is good quality it’s go for ones culture 

to try something different than Western Food?....

 

when I go to Japan I try to eat local food. Vietnam on business ate from the street vendors ...... great food 

 

Rarely eat Mc Donald’s awhile ago got the regular cheese burger

wasn't the good taste as before...

11 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

 

 

Absolutely right,

 

And this is why Thai people race to the new openings of KFC etc up in Isaarn in the malls or stand-alone restaurants. They want to try it out as it is new and it is their idea of trying a foreign food experience. Unless they are Thai kids from the Bangkok suburbs they aren't going to be looking at eating this kind of food on a regular basis.

 

Moving now to other comments regards Taiwan, I can't really see at the moment the Taiwanese being bullied or bowing to pressure by the Chinese when they are so desperate to keep their own identity and way of life. What do US trade sanctions on China have to do with Taiwan, please?

 

 

 

 

I agree Taiwan always resists any pressure from China. So really dont see this has anything to do with trade wars.   Also Taiwan and the US have good relations and agreements in place to protect each other.

On 10/27/2018 at 11:11 AM, observer90210 said:

First, airport restaurants are huge money generating ventures.

 

Second,  it would seem normal that the locals want to make the money for themselves in place of the foreign food chains who are invading the whole world and killing diversity.

 

And third, it is always very annoying to see foreigners in Asia, behaving as if they were back home and making a fuss for having only their Starsucks coffee or insisting only for their pizza roma caca,  rather then integrating or trying out the local offers.

 

If one is fussy and only wants the same food as back at home...well stay at home !

Sorry is this post about an INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT or your little moo ban in naka nowhere? 

Airports have to cater to people from all countries and unfortunately fast food is one of those cuisines. Really 12 likes ?? LMAO! 

The Taiwanese are so famous for their coffee too! 

I sometimes think posters have on heavy duty blinders when reading and like yourself are comparing apples and kangaroos! Instead of comparing international airports and your moo ban.  

 

19 hours ago, rskdev said:

Chinese think they own Taiwan. That is why you have the USA military force cruising in and between the straights of the sea. China is desperately seeking to deploy its citizens on other countries that are ripe for the pickings.

 

Take a look at Cambodia, Sihanoukville,  used to be a very nice place for locals and tourist. Now, the Cambodian gov. has given the chinese unlimited access to build multiple casinos and hotels without building permits!!!

 

Now, they are having water problems. The only lake that they had close by, they filled up, to make more room for chinese tourist. That fresh water lake has been there for eons.

 

Only chinese can go in. Not even American or anyone else. All the local people had to move away from there. Why, because its to expensive now. There own government is allowing this to happen. They don't care. As long as the the PMs and his cronies wallets are full, all is good.

 

China has big money. Asian countries that are corrupt are taking from them already. Other Asian countries soon to follow unless they have some sort of back bone.  That is the mind set of Chinese warfare. It may take hundreds of years, but that is there plan. Kind of like other religious practice I will not mention. But I think you know.

Your observations are absolutely correct to the word.  Additionally, China is consuming the natural resources of Cambodia having secured logging and mineral rights, sold buy the leadership in Phnom Penh. 

14 hours ago, alex8912 said:

Sorry is this post about an INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT or your little moo ban in naka nowhere? 

Airports have to cater to people from all countries and unfortunately fast food is one of those cuisines. Really 12 likes ?? LMAO! 

The Taiwanese are so famous for their coffee too! 

I sometimes think posters have on heavy duty blinders when reading and like yourself are comparing apples and kangaroos! Instead of comparing international airports and your moo ban.  

 

I belive in international diversity but not in exclusivity. The consumer deserves a choice for his food that must be of good quality and fresh. Now everybody has their standards. Some consider fast food as quality food and other perhaps prefer something more elaborated. All a matter of taste..and how deep perhaps are your pockets. Thank you for your very polite post and welcome to my ignore list. Have a nice evening.

3 hours ago, observer90210 said:

I belive in international diversity but not in exclusivity. The consumer deserves a choice for his food that must be of good quality and fresh. Now everybody has their standards. Some consider fast food as quality food and other perhaps prefer something more elaborated. All a matter of taste..and how deep perhaps are your pockets. Thank you for your very polite post and welcome to my ignore list. Have a nice evening.

Ok great. Welcome to my super extremely thin skinned list. 

isn't Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, etc all "One China"???  The mainland ruling party seems to think so.  They will go to great lengths to limit western influence in these regions.

Beijing has no influence on what Taiwan can or cannot do. So its most likely its not profitable for western restaurant to stay open in the airport. McDonald is doing very bad in Taiwan because people are very health conscious there. 

This statement from [email protected] :

Dear sir,

Thank you for your enquiry.

1. Some dining areas(south side of both restricted and non-restricted areas of 4F, Terminal 2) are under renovations. 

2. The renovations are slated to be completed by the end of December. 

Once again, thank you for writing to us.
 
Yours sincerely,
Taoyuan International Airport Co. Ltd.

"renovations" - nothing nefarious or political.

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

This statement from [email protected] :

Dear sir,

Thank you for your enquiry.

1. Some dining areas(south side of both restricted and non-restricted areas of 4F, Terminal 2) are under renovations. 

2. The renovations are slated to be completed by the end of December. 

Once again, thank you for writing to us.
 
Yours sincerely,
Taoyuan International Airport Co. Ltd.

"renovations" - nothing nefarious or political.

That is the official communist party line.

 

I was there and nothing was happening behind the blocked-off area where the restaurants were located. There were no workers, no sound of any work, at 9-10 a.m. on a weekday.

 

As others have stated, airport restaurants are high revenue generators for the airport. It's seems logical that "renovations" would be well planned, and completed quickly, minimizing down-time, to restore the revenue stream as quickly as possible. But, maybe the area will be renovated in a year or 2, for a job that should take a month, if it was well planned.