Beaches stretch invitingly along Australia's Gold Coast. In a -setting like this, why do Aussie Taiwanese find it so difficult to put down roots in Australia? (Jimmy Lin)

Part of Oceania in the southern hemisphere, with an area of ??7,690,000 square kilometers, Australia was once a migrants' paradise because of its vast land area, comparatively small population and relatively free immigration policy.

While the US has been accepting migrants from all over the world for over 200 years, Australia's history of open immigration is quite brief, having been in operation for only about 30 years. In fact, fourth- and fifth-generation Chinese immigrants in the US tend not to know much about their Asian roots. In Australia, however, the Taiwanese-born children of the first immigrants who moved to Australia at a young age with their families are now developing their careers, while the second generation-born in Australia-are still children.

According to data from migration agents, Australia is the third favorite destination for Taiwanese emigrants after the US and Canada. But many Taiwanese who migrate to Australia find it difficult to settle. Australia is more like a convenient rest stop in their search for a permanent home, or sometimes a second-best destination that they are forced to choose.

For many Taiwanese migrants, Australia is their main place of residence but not really a home. They spend their lives traveling between their hometowns and Australia.

Like migrant birds flying south in winter, a number of Taiwanese emigrated to Australia-a distance of 7,300 kilometers-at a chilly time when Taiwan's political, social and educational systems were in a state of unrest.

The timing seemed perfect.

Pre-1970, Australia's immigration policy excluded people from non-European backgrounds. However, the White Australia Policy was abolished in 1972, and multiculturalism-respecting the diversity of different ethnic groups-became the order of the day. In 1981, immigration schemes for business and skilled migrants were further opened up, attracting diverse talent and capital investment. Australia also began to promote its education system to attract foreign students, and today the nation is home for migrants from over 180 countries around the world. In fact about one-fifth of the nation's population was not born in Australia.