Self-Determination

Rally Held to Commemorate One-Year Anniversary of Russian Invasion of Ukraine

A rally was held this afternoon at Liberty Plaza in Taipei to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, organized by Taiwan Stands with Ukraine. The rally involved a number of Taiwanese and Ukrainian speakers, with interpretation in both English and Mandarin. Around 150 to 200 were present for the rally...

Largest National Security Trial to Date Starts in Hong Kong

The largest national security trial to date in Hong Kong started on Monday, with 47 defendants standing trial over charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion", with the act of subversion being directed at the state. The trial is over the defendants’ participation in or involvement in organizing primaries for pro-democracy candidates in Hong Kong LegCo elections...

Will Restrictions Be Placed on the Basic Political Freedoms of Hongkongers in Taiwan?

A document posted on the National Immigration Agency website, specifying regulations on the rights of Hongkongers in Taiwan has caused consternation after being reported on by BBC. Though the document was quickly removed website, the document suggests restrictions on basic freedoms for Hongkongers in Taiwan, including restriction of the freedom of speech, freedom of political participation, and restriction of political assembly...

Breakthrough News Program on Protests in China Proves Self-Contradictory

It was only a matter of time until tankies–leftist apologists for authoritarian regimes such as China or Russia–weighed in on the current protests in China. The most recent example of this in Anglophone discourse may be Tricontinental Institute researcher and Dongsheng News collective Tings Chak’s appearance yesterday on Breakthrough News’ “The Socialist Program.” The program was hosted by Brian Becker, founder of the ANSWER Coalition and one of the founders of the PSL...

Fallism and Chiang Kai-Shek Statue Removal in Taiwan as a Means of Mobilization

Midterm elections are around the corner and there has been a plethora of ballot box issues to choose from that will prove decisive in key races: from Indigenous issues, incumbents’ COVID response, alleged corruption, and so on. But one issue that is not going to feature at all will be that of transformative justice and the unresolved issue of the biggest symbol of authoritarianism: the bronze statue of Chiang Kai-Shek at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial. Which begs the question of the purpose of political iconoclasm, or image breaking, as a form of performative democracy...