Brian Hioeby Brian Hioe
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Photo Credit: Brian Hioe
A DEMONSTRATION TOOK PLACE in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, criticizing Taiwan for its plans to aid Israeli settlement in the West Bank. The aid is currently framed as for a medical project, but this has led to criticisms of the Taiwanese government for actively contributing to Israeli settler colonialism, as the first government in the world to back a medical project in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Several hundred participated, despite extreme heat.
Photo credit: Brian Hioe
The demonstration began shortly after 3 PM. To start off the demonstration, slogans were chanted calling on President Lai Ching-te and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung to admit guilt for Taiwan’s aiding illegal settlement by Israel. In comments, moderators Aurora Chang and Yang Kang criticized the government for disgracing Taiwan in this way. After all, given Taiwan’s international exclusion, Taiwan has long called for international support, while also stating that Taiwan can help. Here, however, Taiwan has proving willing to help Israel as it conducts a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Photo credit: Brian Hioe
Subsequently, participants were called on to dip papers representing Taiwanese currency in red paint, which was then smeared on the Taiwanese and Israeli flags, as well as photos of diplomatic representatives of both countries. “Action theater”, consisting of symbolic performances and skits, is a common feature of protests in Taiwan. Several petitions were also passed around in the audience during this time.
Photo credit: Brian Hioe
After the “action theater” skit, several speeches were held. Speakers discussed efforts to get more students and workers involved in Palestine advocacy, how supporters of Palestine in Taiwan were dismissed as left-wing idealists, and the parallels between China and Israel, as well as that in its own struggle for self-determination, Taiwan should see itself as more similar to Palestine.
Photos of diplomatic representatives of Taiwan and Israel with paper representing money soaked in red paint, representing blood. Photo credit: Brian Hioe
To close the rally, participants were asked to split off into three groups to discuss future plans for pro-Palestine advocacy in Taiwan. One group was for those who were newer to the movement and wished to know more about Palestine, the second group was for those who wished to engage their communities further, and the third was for those who hope to discuss direct action to raise awareness of Palestine. All three discussions had separate English and Chinese groups. When discussion was finished, the three groups reconvened to hold a reportback, then an open mic period was briefly held. The rally ended at 6:30 PM.
Demonstration on Wednesday outside of the Israeli representative office in Taiwan
Ahead of today’s rally, a demonstration was held on Wednesday outside of the Israeli representative office in Taipei. The demonstration took place from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM to overlap with hours in which the office was still working and mostly consisted of speeches. An unusually high number of police was deployed to monitor the protest, though the protest was a small one.
Group discussion under way. Photo credit: Brian Hioe
This is not the first time that Taiwan has proven willing to strengthen ties with Israel, in spite of international condemnations of Israel’s genocide, and even as mass starvation now occurs in Gaza. Previously, the Taiwanese government sought to establish a working holiday program with Israel, which was later suspended after Israel attacked Iran with airstrikes resulting in an increase in travel alerts for the area. Yet actively aiding Israeli settlement seems to have had much larger resonance. Though aid to Israeli settlements may violate international law, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently claims that such aid is still under consideration, and that it does not cross any red lines.