English

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

Brian Hioe
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...
EnglishMarch 2024Politics6 min read

When Will ARA Amendment Discussions Account For Transgender Reproductive Rights?

Yo-Ling Chen
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...
EnglishFebruary 2024Gender/SexualitySocial Movements7 min read

Greater Push for Transparency Occurs After Kinmen Speedboat Incident

Brian Hioe
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...
EnglishFebruary 2024Politics5 min read

Tsai Administration Defends Labor Ties with India

Brian Hioe
The Tsai administration has defended a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked between the Taiwanese government and the Indian government about allowing Indians to work as migrant workers in Taiwan. Namely, in past months, as the two governments finalized the signing of the MoU and the finalization of the draft MoU was reported on in Taiwan, there was a wave of backlash against the prospect...
EnglishFebruary 2024Politics5 min read

KMT Protests Report by Premier Over Food Safety

Brian Hioe
A political controversy about a banned meat additive has become an object of partisan contestation between the KMT and DPP, with the KMT boycotting a report to the legislature by Premier Chen Chien-jen yesterday. The controversy led to back-and-forth before the Lunar New Year between the health authorities of the Food and Drug Administration and the Ministry of Health and Welfare...
EnglishFebruary 2024Politics5 min read