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KMT Leadership Moves to Cut Influence of Veterans’ Branch in Major Internal Shake-Up

In a surprise move, the KMT has moved to demote the position of the Huang Fu-hsing and to integrate the Huang Fu-hsing into local KMT party chapters. Although the Huang Fu-hsing will become a “veterans service working committee" and be a second-tier part of the party, this is a move aimed at undercutting the power of what has sometimes been termed a “party within a party”...

KMT Puts Forward Controversial Legislator for Defense Committee, Former TPP Spokesperson Faces Prosecution

Former TPP spokesperson Ma Chih-wei faces charges over accepting funding from the Chinese government for an independent legislative run. Prosecutors recommended yesterday that Ma face three years and eight months in jail, as well as a two million NTD fine. This is a hefty fine and prison term for a country in which spying charges have historically been treated with lighter sentences than for cannabis charges...

When Will ARA Amendment Discussions Account For Transgender Reproductive Rights?

This past Wednesday, the Taiwan Women’s Link hosted a press conference calling for opening up access to assisted reproduction and decoupling the issue of surrogacy from amendments to the Assisted Reproduction Act (ARA). As part of the press conference, TWL released a petition calling for prioritizing assisted reproduction access for single women and lesbian spouses, such that “all women who want to reproduce” may do so under a system that “ensures women’s reproductive autonomy.” While the TWL’s petition and press conference helped to raise awareness of reproductive rights in Taiwan, it failed to account for the reproductive rights of transgender people in Taiwan...

Greater Push for Transparency Occurs After Kinmen Speedboat Incident

An incident involving the drowning death of two Chinese fishermen, who were on a speedboat intruding in the territorial waters of Kinmen, continues to be politically contested. The two fishermen died after the speedboat they were on refused to consent to a search by the Taiwanese Coast Guard, attempted to flee, then capsized. Though two of the four people on the speedboat were pulled out of the water, the other two had no vital signs when this occurred...