If I settle on Taiwan I will definitely make the effort to try and learn at least some. I was considering the Philippines primary because they speak English, but the infrastructure, food, ect is better in Thailand for a similar cost of living. Now that Thailand has legal weed, that tips the scale quite a bit in Thailand’s favor.
Taiwan is NOT Thailand .
Taiwanese speak Chinese , the marbles in mouth language . Thai is totally different .
Much easier for 2nd languages people .
Thai , or P.I. , you want to know what the people are saying (about or concerning you) You do not want be the perpetually cluessky foreigner , unable to communicate in the national dialect and expecting everyone to comport to , or speak, English .They love it . Otherwise you will always be ‘ just another farang’