Getting a phone and sim in Taipei, Taiwan

I am not really sure why but it is very challenging to get a sim card in certain countries(Ehmm Korea).

So you have a unlocked phone for Taiwan(GSM)and want to buy prepaid minutes? In many Asian countries you can just walk into 7-11, but a sim, buy a prepaid load and your done.

In Taiwan? Nope, of course it can't be that simple.

Taiwan phone companies require TWO forms of ID.

So your passport is valid to get in, get a 60 day visitor visa, register as a student, get an apartment but getting a Sim card requires two ID's?

So I have no other US ID, I attempted without any luck to get a poor little sim...in the end..I had to have a Taiwanese friend cosign to get a prepaid card. Booooo