English

Banqiao High School to Allow Male Students to Wear Skirts After Student Demonstration in May

Brian Hioe
The New Taipei Municipal Banqiao Senior High School announced earlier this month that starting from next year, both male and female students will be allowed greater say in their choice of uniforms. As such, male students will also be allowed to wear skirts as part of their uniforms if they so desire, whereas previously it was only female students that were allowed a choice of whether to wear skirts or pants...
August 2019EnglishGender/SexualitySocial Movements5 min read

The NPP Faces Crisis After Major Controversies, Unexpected Departure of Freddy Lim

Brian Hioe
The NPP saw two major controversies erupt in the past week, not only regarding a conflict of interest scandal regarding legislator Kawlo Iyun Pacidal that led to her being stripped of her position as a legislator, but also questions about the political orientation of the party vis-a-vis the DPP going into 2020 elections. Subsequently, with little warning, NPP legislator and party heavyweight Freddy Lim announced earlier today that he would be withdrawing from the NPP and running in Taipei’s Zhongzheng-Wanhua district as an independent...
August 2019EnglishPolitics22 min read

Han Kuo-yu Confirmed as the KMT’s Presidential Candidate, But Fractures Remain Visible in the Party

Brian Hioe
Han Kuo-yu was confirmed as the KMT’s presidential candidate on Sunday at the party’s National Congress, although an unusual development was the simultaneous announcement that a KMT president would not simultaneously serve as the chair of the party going forward. Indeed, this seems to be a sign of continued fractures within the party...
EnglishJuly 2019Politics6 min read

China Announces Ban on Individual Tours to Taiwan, Conducts Drills on Border with Hong Kong

Brian Hioe
Reports of unusual actions by the Chinese government aimed at affecting Hong Kong and Taiwan have emerged in the last day. First, the Chinese government announced that individual tours to Taiwan from 47 cities across China will come to a halt starting on August 1st. Second, reports have emerged of Chinese troops amassing on the border between Hong Kong and China, leading to fears that this could be an early sign of a PLA crackdown on Hong Kong. A report by the SCMP later stated that these were police by 190,000 Chinese police officers to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, not military drills, but the development has raised fears nonetheless...
EnglishJuly 2019Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements13 min read

Protests Erupt Outside of Hong Kong Police Stations in Response to Sunday’s Arrests

Brian Hioe
Clashes between demonstrators and police took place outside of police stations in Kwai Chung, Sai Wan Ho, and Tin Shui Wai in Hong Kong last night, with demonstrators protesting the arrest of dozens of demonstrators the preceding night. The demonstrations were not called for in advance yet took place at the same time in three separate locations in Hong Kong, a sign of the escalating situation in the wake of four consecutive days of protest...
EnglishJuly 2019Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements12 min read

After Three Days of Protests, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Holds Press Conference

Brian Hioe
Protests again took place in Hong Kong on Sunday, with thousands attending a march from to Chater Garden to the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park in Sheung Wan. The march took place as the third day of a series of consecutive demonstrations in Hong Kong, following last Friday’s demonstration in Hong Kong International Airport and Saturday’s demonstration in Yuen Long...
Alex YunEnglishJuly 2019Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements8 min read

Attacks on Demonstrators by Police After Rally Against Triad Violence in Yuen Long

Brian Hioe
Attacks by police on demonstrators took place in Yuen Long in Hong Kong yesterday, with police using tear gas and firing rubber bullets and sponge grenades at demonstrators. The demonstration was against the attacks on protestors by individuals thought to be triad members that had taken place in Yuen Long last week, these attacks coming on the heels of police violence against protesters. The demonstration was also against suspected police collusion with triads in the attacks....
EnglishJuly 2019Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements7 min read

The Chinese Government Claiming That America Is Behind Demonstrations in Hong Kong Is Nothing New

Brian Hioe
A recent development in the demonstrations against the extradition bill in Hong Kong has been the Chinese government calling on America to stop politically interfering by inciting the protests. The CCP has long alleged “foreign interference” as responsible for the outbreak of various forms of resistance against its rule...
EnglishJuly 2019Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements5 min read