Brian Hioeby Brian Hioe
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Photo Credit: Brian Hioe
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS demonstrated, calling for an end to the killings in Gaza earlier this month. The demonstration began after 2 PM on April 13th outside of the Ximen MRT. After proceeding through the city, following a speaker truck, the march route ended outside of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with an open mic period held.
The demonstration saw participation by stalwarts of Taiwanese civil society, including the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, Obasang Alliance, Green Party, and Amnesty International. At the same time, pro-unification-leaning groups such as the Left Party, Labour Party, and other groups also attended. Other notable presences included the Rave Punks for Palestine and Gaza, as well as Serikat Buruh Industri Perawatan Taiwan and other Indonesian migrant worker groups, the Philippine organization Migrante, as well as Jewish scholars who spoke from their perspectives as anti-Zionist Jews.
Photo credit: Brian Hioe
Palestine is one of the few causes that both pro-independence-leaning and pro-unification groups both participate in, in that it is rare for both sides to ever see eye-to-eye on any issue. Nevertheless, this has led to smears directed at pro-Palestine demonstrators in the past, with groups such as the Obasang Alliance conspiratorially accused of defecting to the pro-unification camp.
To this extent, it is important to note that the pro-unification groups that appear at pro-Palestine rallies are mostly groups linked to left-wing intellectuals or organized labor, who may have a rosy view of China, but are not exactly organized crime-linked, as with the China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP). Factually incorrect claims have circulated online alleging the presence of the CUPP at pro-Palestine demonstrations in the past. After the rally, there has continued to be criticisms of demonstrators by pro-independence groups who perceive support for Palestine as a pro-China cause, given China’s claims of supporting Palestine–when, in reality, China’s economic and military links to Israel are far more substantial
Photo credit: Brian Hioe
In particular, the Taiwanese government was criticized for its complicity in the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Taiwanese companies, including in the electronics industry, were singled out for links to the Israeli government. Taiwan’s ties with the US were highlighted, in that the US is Israel’s military backer.
During the open mic period that concluded the rally, speakers highlighted the many deaths of children that have taken place in Gaza, Israel’s targeting of medical workers, and Israel’s use of cluster munitions and other weapons intended to cause maximum loss of life against civilian populations. Likewise, speakers also called attention to the US’s militarism across the world, including bases in Okinawa, Jeju Island, and other places, as well as that China is no better, in its own ethnic cleansing of Uyghurs and Tibetans, in efforts to eradicate culture, language, and remove them from their land.
Photo credit: Brian Hioe
The demonstration closed with a skit performance, featuring two individuals being smeared with red paint by figures representing the US and Israel–two large puppets depicting US president Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. To highlight resistance, the two figures smeared with red paint and later torn apart.
Still, with more than one year of protests in support of Gaza in Taiwan, there continues to be a lack of public attention to the issue. Taiwan largely gets its news on international affairs from the US. Moreover, Taiwan’s geopolitical alignment with the US has resulted in pro-Israel views being prevalent in Taiwan. Rather than seeing Taiwan’s struggle for recognition and self-determination as having strong parallels with Palestine, this has instead resulted in siding with Israel and seeing Israel as offering a model for Taiwan to emulate as a regional military power. Moreover, the presence of pro-unification left groups leads to the tarring of human rights groups that stand against the genocide, even when these are groups who have long been in favor of sovereignty and self-determination for Taiwan. Ironically, the presence of pro-unification left groups that refuse to condemn China’s actions is often due to the fact that they view Palestine as a cause supported by China, even if China has substantial tech and trade ties with Israel.
At the same time, this particular protest has seen more coverage than in the past, with CNA and other news agencies reporting on it for the first time rather than simply posting photos. It is to be seen if this leads to greater understanding of the events that have been ongoing in Gaza for over a year by this point.