Doctor Calls for Singapore-Style Housing Policy to Combat Low Birth Rate

Assisted reproductive specialist Dr. Tseng Chi-jui stated today that while the government's new birth rate strategy is commendable, it lacks a 'final push' to ensure young people can settle down. He urged the government to look at Singapore's HDB housing model and establish a 'Taiwanese version' of public housing to help rescue the birth rate. President Lai Ching-te recently announced 18 measures to address the low birth rate, but Dr. Tseng argues that the core issue preventing young people from marrying and having children is the pressure of high housing prices and a lack of long-term residential security. Dr. Tseng proposed a three-stage reform: short-term expansion of social housing, medium-term extension of residency periods, and a long-term goal of implementing a 'Taiwanese HDB system' featuring government-led planning, long-term leases, and strict anti-speculation measures.