Man's drunken tattoo fail: 'I love Taiwan. Tattoo it on my face.'

The decision to ink the name of Taiwan on his forehead was made during a night of heavy drinking. Photo / Australscope

A British expat living in Taiwan angered his wife when he made the drunken decision to tattoo the island's name on his forehead in huge Chinese characters.

Paul, 32, is said to be an avid supporter of Taiwan's sovereignty and independence movement, but he shocked his Taiwanese wife when he came home with the words "tai wan" inked on his head and a Taiwan independence flag tattooed on his chin.

The Brit, who met his wife during a working-holiday trip in Australia in the mid-2000s, has been living in Taiwan for over a decade and now resides in the south-western city of Kaohsiung.

He even had the same green, alternative Taiwan independence flag - made by the World Taiwanese Congress - tattooed on his right arm a year ago.

By Paul's own admission, the rash decision to ink the name of Taiwan on his forehead came during a night of heavy drinking and after a passionate discussion about Taiwan's independence.

Doctors in Taiwan said it may take 10 painful sessions and 200,000 TWD (NZD $9500) just to have the tattoo lightened via laser treatment. Photo / Australscope

He is said to have picked out the nearest tattoo parlour and then demanded the words and green flag be inked on his face.

Tattoo artist Wei Cheng, who has been accused of taking advantage of his drunk client, argues that he questioned Paul's decision numerous times before proceeding with the session.

"Are you sure you want to tattoo this on your face?" Wei said he asked Paul, who replied: "I love Taiwan. Tattoo it on my face."

Wei said: "I told him he could even be pulled over by the police, but he said he would change his passport photo."

Wei noted that his enthusiastic client even shaved his beard himself before the session and was "very pleased" with the end result, uploading photos of his new tattoo online.

The Brit's wife, however, was not pleased with the "artwork".

"My wife doesn't like it. She's very angry," Paul told local media in fluent Mandarin.

"I'm stupid," he added.

"I love Taiwan. That's why I did this," Paul said, adding: "But I wouldn't have done this had I not been drunk."

When asked what he plans to do about the tattoo, the Brit said: "I don't know."

Doctors in Taiwan said it may take 10 painful sessions and 200,000 TWD (NZD $9500) to have the tattoo lightened via laser treatment, and it will take much more than that to have it fully removed.