English

Bill for Legislative Assistant Subsidies Accused of Allowing for Corruption

Brian Hioe
New legislation advanced by Chen Yu-chen of the KMT was accused earlier this month of making it easier for legislators to embezzle government subsidies. After public backlash, it is uncertain where the bill currently sits, with the KMT legislative caucus suggesting that it does not have plans to discuss the bill and would suspend it until there was further discussion of it to achieve consensus, but Chen stating that she would not withdraw the bill...
December 2025EnglishPolitics6 min read

Autumn Struggle Labor Demonstration Calls for “Peaceful Reunification”, Features Cheng Li-wun

Brian Hioe
Autumn Struggle, historically one of Taiwan’s two major annual labor protests alongside May Day, took place late last month on November 30th. In recent years, however, Autumn Struggle has become known for its drift toward the KMT, as reflective of the influence of the pro-unification left within Taiwanese labor circles. This was again the case this year, with KMT chair Cheng Li-wun making an appearance at Autumn Struggle...
December 2025EnglishLaborPoliticsSocial Movements5 min read

Qiao Collective’s Defense of China on Palestine Embodies the “Ah Q Spirit”

Brian Hioe
The term “Ah Q Spirit” originates from the short story “The True Story of Ah Q” by the Chinese leftist writer Lu Xun. Ah Q, the protagonist of the story, is the village idiot with delusions of grandeur during revolutionary times. “Ah Q Spirit”, then, has come to refer to the spirit of self-delusion–at one point in the story, after being beaten, Ah Q next decides to beat himself–so that he can at least feel a sense of being a winner in beating someone. Of course, that somebody is himself...
December 2025EnglishPolitics5 min read