Brian Hioeby Brian Hioe
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Photo Credit: Brian Hioe
A VIGIL FOR Palestine was held in Liberty Plaza in Taipei today, on the second anniversary of the attacks conducted by Hamas on October 7th, 2023. After the attacks, the Israeli government began an extermination campaign directed against Palestinians in Gaza, with over 60,000 killed since then, and the decimation of infrastructure across Gaza, including all hospitals. Around fifty were in attendance.
The vigil began at 7 PM, taking place underneath the archway in Liberty Plaza in Taipei, a common site for protests. At the start of the rally, speakers described the events that had taken place in Gaza in the last two years. Participants held up signs calling attention to Israel’s starvation of children in Gaza, as well as photos of those killed in Gaza.
Photo credit: Brian Hioe
Subsequently, Palestinian music was played while a small white cloth was unfurled for participants to attach small paper cranes to. The paper cranes were stapled to the banner, given heavy wind, and electric candles were also placed on the banner. Taiwan was called on to conform with the international consensus criticizing Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Next, an open mic period was held. The open mic period constituted the majority of the rally, with participants speaking in both English and Mandarin, and translation was provided. Views reflected a variety of perspectives, including criticisms of American imperialism, calling attention to the lack of attention to Gaza in Taiwan and the view of Palestine as a faraway place in the Middle East, and some who framed Hamas as freedom fighters in light of the violence against Palestinians that has taken place across decades. The Taiwanese government was criticized for continuing to conduct diplomatic exchanges with Israel.
Photo credit: Brian Hioe
Past months have seen a number of actions in support of Palestine in Taiwan, often highlighting and critiquing links between Taiwan and Israel. On August 4th, National Taiwan University students demonstrated against a talk by Palmer Luckey, a US defense technology entrepreneur who had previously declared himself to be a “radical Zionist.” Luckey was in Taiwan to speak at the invite of Academia Sinica’s AI Academy and the National Science and Technology Council, with his company Anduril Technologies having signed a memorandum of understanding with the Taiwanese government over drones. A demonstration outside the Israeli representative office was held on August 6th, while Amnesty International Taiwan held a protest to “draw a red line against genocide” on August 22nd.
Photo credit: Brian Hioe
In September, activists demonstrated outside of Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition, criticizing a number of the companies exhibiting over their ties with the Israeli military. The exhibition, which was visited by Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te and vice president Hsiao Bi-khim, was touted by the government as representing progress for Taiwan in strengthening defense times. Demonstrators, however, stated that while they were not against Taiwan’s defending itself from threats by China, Taiwan should avoid complicity in Israel’s human rights crimes.
Photo credit: Brian Hioe
Likewise, a report elaborating on links between Taiwanese companies and their links to the Israeli military was released during the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition. The report was written in collaboration with UK-based Humanity Research Consultancy.
The demonstration ended shortly after 9 PM with a group photo. With more than two years of silence from Taiwan, it is to be seen if there can be increased momentum to push for greater attention to Palestine in Taiwan.