I love Taipei. Not from the perspective of someone from the USA, but as a native New Yorker. There are strong parallels between our respective cities. Taipei, like New York City, sits off the coast of a very large and powerful country; we acknowledge their existence, but we pretty much try to do our own thing regardless of whether the mainland approves or not.
I have been traveling to Taiwan since 2004 and completed nearly 3-month stays in 2005 and in 2007. My girlfriend, a resident of Taipei, reciprocates by visiting me at half yearly intervals. This has given me a great view and appreciation of the city. Taipei to me represents safety, comfort and a second home. I love the infrastructure, the look and design of their buildings, their spotless MRT subway line, and the mish-mash of old and new. The Taiwanese adherence to tradition is coupled with the need to push forward and modernize. The trick, as always, is to find the proper balance between progress and heritage. This never-ending clash of ideas and interests is the engine that provides Taipei with its identity as much as it does New York City.