Youth Movements

Progressive Taiwanese Civil Society Sees Defeat By Way Of National Referendum

Brian Hioe
The results of referendum voting will no doubt come as a great shock to progressive Taiwanese civil society with, quite literally, all of the referendum proposals they championed being voted down. On the other hand, all of the referendums they opposed passed. However, not all of these achieved the necessary 25% of voter participation needed to be legally binding... Read More
#22EnglishNovember 2018Social MovementsYouth Movements7 Comments 010 min read

Tsai Administration Carries Out Politically-Motivated Use Of Capital Punishment

Brian Hioe
Make no mistake: The execution of a 39-year-old man in Kaohsiung last Friday is a political killing. In all probability, the Tsai administration went ahead with the execution as a way to score political points for the DPP in the lead-up to 2018 local elections and in order to counter criticisms that it has been lax on violent crime... Read More
EnglishSeptember 2018Social MovementsYouth Movements1 Comment 06 min read

Not Guilty Verdict Upheld For Sunflower Movement Protesters After Appeal By Prosecutors

Brian Hioe
The Taiwan High Court ruling to uphold the acquittal of 22 Sunflower Movement activists for their actions during the 2014 occupation of the Legislative Yuan maintains a previous ruling approximately one year ago that found Sunflower Movement activists not guilty on the basis that their actions were justified civil disobedience. What is this indicative of, in reflecting on close to four years since the movement broke out and the year since the previous ruling?... Read More
EnglishMarch 2018Social MovementsYouth Movements0 Comments 17 min read

Attempts By Sporting Associations To Block Reform Efforts Using Fake Members

Brian Hioe
Controversy over sporting associations in Taiwan continues, with accusations in the past month that sporting associations have taken steps to try and block pushes for reform from Taiwanese activists and members of civil society. This has been through raising the costs for joining sporting associations and a sudden influx of thousands of applications shortly before the deadline, of which many are thought to be fake... Read More
EnglishJanuary 2018Social MovementsYouth Movements1 Comment 06 min read

Will A ‘Civil War’ Break Out Between Third Force Parties Before 2018 Elections?

Brian Hioe
A “civil war” between post-Sunflower Movement “Third Force” parties, composed of activists that sought to enter electoral politics after the movement, is a possibility in the lead-up to 2018 elections. Namely, it is possible that multiple Third Force parties will run in the same areas, leading to conflict.... Read More
December 2017EnglishSocial MovementsYouth Movements0 Comments 014 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... Read More
December 2017EnglishSocial MovementsYouth Movements0 Comments 18 min read

Huang Kuo-Chang Survives Recall Vote, But What Now?

Brian Hioe
Huang Kuo-Chang has survived the recall vote organized against him by anti-gay marriage groups in his electoral district of New Taipei 12. Nevertheless, this was by the recall vote not meeting the necessary benchmark to pass, and the amount of voters who voted in favor of the recall were greater than those that voted against it. What now for the NPP, then?... Read More
December 2017EnglishSocial MovementsYouth Movements0 Comments 110 min read