December 2019

Detention of Well-Known Chinese Labor Activist Points to a Larger Pattern

The detention of young Chinese labor activist Chen Wei-xiang proves the latest incident of the detention of social activists by the Chinese government. Chen's detention points to a larger pattern, not only regarding actions by the Chinese government against labor activists, but against activists that run news platforms aimed at spreading information about protests or political dissent...

Chthonic Concert Draws 30,000, Dueling Rallies in Kaohsiung Both Draw Hundreds of Thousands

A number of political rallies took place in both northern and southern Taiwan today, between both the Pan-Green and Pan-Blue camps. In Taipei, independent legislator Freddy Lim and the young Pan-Green candidates of the "Democracy Frontline" interparty alliance held a rally and concert on Ketagalan Boulevard with Lim's band, the symphonic black metal band Chthonic. President Tsai Ing-wen was among those in attendance, with organizers claiming that over 30,000 attended the concert...

Misogyny, Racism, and Homophobia Abound in 2020 Elections

In examining many of the prominent male politicians playing important roles in 2020 elections, a striking commonality is their frequent overt displays of misogyny, racism, and homophobia. This is true of individuals including but not limited to Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu, the KMT’s presidential candidate, his running mate Simon Chang, KMT chair Wu Den-yih, and Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je, who is not running but whose Taiwan People’s Party will be fielding a number of legislative candidates in 2020 elections...

Incidents Highlight Chinese Pressure on Taiwan in Entertainment Industry and in International Organizations

Two recent incidents highlight Taiwan’s marginalization from the international community as a result of Chinese pressure. The first incident took place after Axios reported last week that the World Bank had attempted to compel Taiwanese staff members to obtain Chinese passports, as a condition of maintaining their employment. In the second incident, Taiwanese streaming personality Potter King found himself blocked from his Weibo account earlier this week after making a video in which he appeared with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen and referred to her as “President”...

Shopping Mall Protests and Memorials for the Fallen Take Place Over the Weekend in Hong Kong

Police violence against protestors again took place in Hong Kong yesterday. Police violence yesterday took place after protest activities in shopping malls, billed as a form of Christmas shopping, and memorial activities for Marco Leung, who is viewed as the first protestor to die connected to the movement...

Comments by Han on Bill for Hong Kong Asylum Seekers Are Hypocritical

An attempt by KMT presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu to attack the DPP on the issue of its failure to pass an asylum law for Hongkongers proves ironic. It is the KMT, after all, which is the political party in Taiwan calling for the political unification of Taiwan and Hong Kong. At the same time, it is true that the DPP has failed to take substantive action to help Hongkongers seeking refuge in Taiwan...