What exactly do the Taiwan Visa requirements say?

Your friend and Michael F are both right. You need to have at least 6 months validity in your pport in order to get into Taiwan without applying for visa for stays up to 30 days. eg. If you enter Taiwan on 1 May 2009, your pport must at least valid untill 1 Nov 2009 in order to enter visa free for 30 days for US pport holders like u.