Local police departments have foreign affairs sections that are normally staffed by English-speaking officers. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police, and to the American Institute in Taiwan, at Taipei or Kaohsiung. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, A Safe Trip Abroad . Men between the ages of 18 and 45 who were born in Taiwan or who have ever held a Taiwan passport should be aware that they may be subject to compulsory military service in Taiwan, even if they are also U.S. citizens, and even if they have entered Taiwan on U.S. passports. Health facilities in Taiwan are fully adequate for routine and emergency medical treatment.
Physicians are well trained and many have studied in the United States and speak English.
State of the art medical equipment is available at many clinics and hospitals. Ambulances are available in Taiwan but are not like those in the United States. There are no trained Emergency Medical System Technicians accompanying the ambulance, unless one lives within 2 kilometers of National Taiwan University Hospital or Veterans General Hospital. Doctors and hospitals in Taiwan expect immediate cash payment for health services. The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.