Why do refugees pick USA, UK, Canada, OZ, NZ over rich Japan, S.Korea, Taiwan & Singapore?
Why do so many people trying to leave behind miserable conditions in nations in Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, former Eastern Bloc nations pick the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several Western European nations to make a new start, but they don't choose rich nations such as South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Japan? I know that South Korea now has some Nigerians, but generally most from the Third World would gravitate towards say, Australia or New Zealand before picking a rich Asian nation. Why is this? Why is the West a magnet for people of different races, but not the rich Asian nations that could take in immigrants as we do? Why is the West welcoming, but not Asia despite having money? The DPRK is an unusual situation, its refugees risk their lives to cross the border into China where they risk repatriation by Chinese authorities. If they can get to an embassy, the most logical place to send a North Korean is, of course, South Korea, which grants them citizenship as they are the same people. I would consider Japan rich based on having the third highest GDP in the world, a per-capita income over $30,000 (not that high compared to the price of living) and a generally high standard of living as surveyed by most leading organizations. The problem with Japan is, its long recession, its debt and the cost of living, but it is definitely one of the most economically developed nations on Earth and the Yen is an important currency.
Politics - 9 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
because australia is the best country ever for them. they get here and have to wait a minimal amount of time in detention centers then boom full citizenship, money and housing. in most other countries theyd get shot or sent back where they came from!
2 :
There are refugees in the Far East, especially from the DPRK.
3 :
They are economic refugees and we don't want the liabilities. We are forced to take them by the United Nations as part of the United Nations quota allocation.
4 :
If they pick OZ, it's because they like being tall and aren't particularly afraid of witches. A big destination for those living in black and white cultures.
5 :
I believe that the reason they tend to gravitate to the specified countries is for a greater sense of freedom. While the Asian countries you mentioned are well off, they are not as well known as the former countries for their freedom, which is something people crave.
6 :
From where I stand it would appear that the UK is more than a fairly attractive place to get something for sweet ferkall if you pretend to be a refugee. We're fast becoming swamped by the dross of Eastern Europe & Asia.
7 :
It is a difference in culture. Many Eastern countries are far stricter as to who they're willing to admit as citizens, and certain Asian countries, Japan especially, are very homogeneous. They are very patriotic and take a great amount of pride in their heritage, and this can make them less welcoming to foreigners, which in turn gives foreign immigrants fewer opportunities in the work force. Please understand, I am not criticizing these nations in any way. I am just saying that they have different ways of looking at immigration. Also, the USA tends to attract immigrants because of its history of immigration. Since its beginning as a nation, the US has portrayed the image of a country built by people from many different backgrounds, whereas Eastern countries tend to pride their success on the hard work and rich histories and traditions of their own descendants. And of course, geography plays a role in the destination of immigrants. People from Central and South America are more likely to cross into the U.S because of its proximity, while people from underdeveloped European satellite countries are more likely to choose the nearby UK.
8 :
Well for starters Japan is certainly not Rich as you stated, and have many of the same troubles we do.I think most refugees find Countries with decent human rights and many more Freedoms more appealing than just having a Country with monetary wealth. I think out of any of those countries listed Canada Australia, and the United States have similar laws and customs that appeal to a higher quality of life than just being able to find a job sooner.........................
9 :
Actually, there's starting a pattern of people moving TO those countries from western countries. Many higher educated Americans and Europeans, for example are taking jobs over in those places, because the job market is more plentiful. Many of the Koreans, Taiwanese, and Japanese in the U.S. would love to move back, in fact, but the cost of living is way too high. Also, if they have school age children, the shock of the different education system is a little over-whelming.
