English

What Happens If Marriage Equality Gets Voted Down By Referendum?

Brian Hioe
Many uncertainties remain for efforts to realize marriage equality in Taiwan, with the approval of multiple referendums on marriage equality and sexual education. Two referendums, pushed for by marriage equality supporters, have phrasing favorable to the legalization of marriage equality and have reached the necessary benchmarks to be held. On the other hand, referendums with phrasing unfavorable to gay marriage and sexual education have also reached necessary benchmarks to be held, as pushed for by anti-gay groups...
EnglishGender/SexualityOctober 2018Social Movements5 min read

Trump Continues To Be The Largest Wild Card In US-China Relations

Brian Hioe
Tensions between the US and China continue to increase, as illustrated in a recent series of statements by senior Trump administration officials, something that policy thinkers in Taiwan have clearly noticed. On the other hand, Trump himself continues to prove the largest wild card in US-China relations. This is something that many in Taiwan do not seem to realize...
EnglishInternationalOctober 2018Regional Tensions8 min read

Disappearance Of Chinese Interpol Head Is Telling

Brian Hioe
It proves highly ironic that China would unwittingly demonstrate the falsity of claims that it abides by international norms with the arrest of Interpol president Meng Hongwei. Apparently, it is that Chinese nationals, even high-ranking officials of international government bodies, are subject to Chinese law entirely above and beyond their commitments to the international community...
EnglishOctober 2018Politics4 min read

Pence Comments Suggest Splits Within The Trump Administration

Brian Hioe
Recent comments by American vice president Mike Pence at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC have made waves in Taiwan, with the perception that such comments are made as the articulation of a stronger pro-Taiwan and more anti-China stance by the US. However, this would be yet another indication of a strong disconnect between Taiwan’s perception of the United States and what is political reality in the United States...
America and the Asia PacificEnglishInternationalOctober 20187 min read