English

12 Domestic Cases Reported by CECC, Including Cluster at Factory, With Uptick in Cases in Past Days

Brian Hioe
The Central Epidemic Command Center, which coordinates Taiwan’s response to COVID-19, announced 12 domestic cases today. 58 imported cases were also reported, along with no deaths. Of particular concern are that four of the cases from today are from an electronics factory in Taoyuan. This occurred due to a previously known case that worked at the Taoyuan International Airport, who transmitted it to her child and husband and friend, who then spread it to four co-workers. The factory has 280 workers, who have all been sent into quarantine, and the factory has halted work...
EnglishJanuary 2022Politics5 min read

Freddy Lim Survives Taipei Recall, Lin Ching-yi Wins Taichung By-Election in Pan-Green Win

Brian Hioe
The pan-Green camp saw a victory today, with independent legislator Freddy Lim retaining his seat in Zhongzheng-Wanhua in Taipei District 5, and Lin Ching-yi of the DPP winning the by-election for Taichung District 2, which includes Shalu, Longjing, Dadu, Wuri, and Wufeng. Voting took place in Taichung and Taipei from 8 AM to 4 PM. Vote counting in Zhongzheng-Wanhua was more or less finished by 5 PM, while Lin showed a clear lead in vote counting in Taichung earlier on. Although it was originally expected that results would be known by 7 PM, results were known far earlier...
EnglishJanuary 2022Politics7 min read

Ruling on Gay Adoption Case Sets Precedent, But Does Not Change Overall Laws

Brian Hioe
The Kaohsiung Juvenile and Family Court made a historic ruling last month, allowing a gay couple to adopt a child that neither of the two is biologically related to. At the same time, the ruling is case-specific, only applies to that couple, and does not overturn current laws in Taiwan, which only allow gay couples to jointly adopt if the child is the biological child of one of the couple...
December 2021EnglishGender/SexualitySocial Movements6 min read

Presidential Office Criticized Over New Year’s Performance by Indigenous Groups

Brian Hioe
Indigenous groups have been critical after a performance held by the Presidential Office as part of new year’s celebrations. In particular, the performance featured five performers that were supposedly dressed as Amis Indigenous, singing traditional songs. Nevertheless, Indigenous groups such as the Indigenous Youth Front have criticized this performance as an act of cultural appropriation, seeing as the clothing worn by the performers was not authentic to cultural customs, appeared to be cheaply rented costumes, and the songs performed fit Han stereotypes regarding Indigenous traditional music...
EnglishIndigenousJanuary 2022RaceSocial Movements5 min read

Yen Kuan-heng Attacks Media Over Increased Scrutiny

Brian Hioe
Yen Kuan-heng, who is the KMT’s candidate for the by-election to fill the seat formerly occupied by Chen Po-wei of the Taiwan Statebuilding Party, has taken to alleging media bias against him. In particular, Yen filed forty-five complaints at the National Communications Commission alleging unfair media coverage that has disproportionately focused on him in national television networks...
December 2021EnglishPolitics7 min read