Cannabis Decriminalization Advocates Hold Annual 420 Rally Outside of Legislature

Brian Hioe

Four Decades of Strife and Resistance: A Deep Dive Into What’s Happening in West Papua

Girard Mariano Lopez

Interview: Kawtorpai Church

Patrick Huang

Electricity Price Hikes Likely to Lead to Political Contestation

Brian Hioe

Civil Society Groups Mark Anniversary of Fukushima Disaster Earlier This Month

Brian Hioe

Freeway and High-Speed Rail Proposal by the KMT Stokes Controversy

Brian Hioe

Social Movements

10,000 Occupy Major Taipei Intersection To Demonstrate Planned Labor Law Changes

Brian Hioe
Demonstration against the Tsai administration’s planned changes to the Labor Standards Act began today have been intense Protests began at noon outside DPP headquarters. After three hours of speeches, at which point demonstrators swelled to over 10,000, the demonstration marched towards the Legislative Yuan along Zhongxiao West Road. After being blocked by police from proceeding further, demonstrators instead occupied the intersection of Zhongxiao West Road and Zhongshan North and South Roads, where they remain...
#20December 2017EnglishLaborSocial Movements7 min read

Charges Facing Ma Ying-Jeou Complicated By New Party Scandal

Brian Hioe
Former president Ma Ying-Jeou of the KMT, who saw the eruption of the Sunflower Movement against his policies aimed at directing the unification of Taiwan and China under his term, continues to come under fire for actions that took place during his presidency. In particular, Ma is currently facing lawsuits regarding the underselling of former state-owned enterprises and former KMT party assets. But this has been complicated by the recent scandal regarding the detention of high-profile New Party members...
December 2017EnglishSocial MovementsYouth Movements8 min read

Despite Official Celebrations, Path For Migrant Workers’ Rights Remains Long In Taiwan

Brian Hioe
Despite official commemorations by the Taiwanese government yesterday stressing the role migrant workers play in Taiwanese society at the 228 Memorial Park to commemorate International Migrants’ Day, which is today on December 18th, rights for migrant workers has a long way to go in Taiwan. This what bears keeping in mind today on International Migrants’ Day...
#20December 2017EnglishLaborSocial Movements7 min read

Thousands Demonstrate In Taichung Against Air Pollution

Brian Hioe
Several thousand demonstrated in Taichung against growing problems of air pollution in Taiwan today. According to varying estimates, between 5,000 to 9,000 were in attendance, but despite the size of the protest, the demonstration was less reported on by media due to taking place outside of Taipei. This is ironic, given that the focus of the demonstration was in many ways on problems of pollution as facing urban areas outside of Taipei, and on redistributing political power in a more even manner across Taiwan...
December 2017EnglishEnvironmentalSocial Movements8 min read

Anger Over Firing Of China Airlines Union Leaders By Management

Brian Hioe
Anger has broken out from activists after punishment against China Airlines workers for participation in the China Airlines strike last year, the first strike in the history Taiwan’s airline industry. This took the form of the firing of China Airlines workers Lin Xinyi, forced transfer of Zhang Shuyuan, and Zhu Liangjun facing punishment and being made to sit down and talk with management...
#20December 2017EnglishLaborSocial Movements5 min read