Category: January 2023 | New Bloom Magazine

Killing of Opposition Politician Should Raise Questions Over Taiwan’s Backing of Eswatini

Brian Hioe01/31/2023

The killing of Eswatini opposition politician Thulani Maseko by unknown gunmen should raise questions for Taiwan’s backing of the Eswatini monarchy, one of the world’s last absolute monarchies. Maseko’s killing came only hours after the country’s monarch, King Mswati III, threatened activists opposed to his rule...

EnglishJanuary 2023Politics5 min read

Volcano Mine Sales to Taiwan Come Under Fire from Pan-Blue Camp

Brian Hioe01/30/2023

Political controversy has broken out about plans by the US to sell Volcano mines to Taiwan, primarily in the form of attacks on the notion by the pan-Blue camp. The proposed purchase of the Volcano mine system is for a 180 million USD arms purchase agreement...

America and the Asia PacificEnglishInternationalJanuary 20235 min read

Nationwide Data Leaks Raise Security Concerns

Brian Hioe01/29/2023

There has been pushback from politicians and civil society groups regarding a purported leak of household registration information for almost all Taiwanese citizens. News of the purported leak broke last month...

EnglishJanuary 2023Politics5 min read

What Does the Tsai Administration’s Cabinet Reshuffle Indicate?

Brian Hioe01/28/2023

A cabinet reshuffle that took place over the Lunar New Year has swapped out a number of key positions in the Tsai administration...

EnglishJanuary 2023Politics6 min read

What Would the Implications of a McCarthy Visit to Taiwan Be?

Brian Hioe01/26/2023

Reports earlier this week suggested that US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy intends to visit Taiwan sometime in the spring. Consequently, the Pentagon is preparing for a possible McCarthy visit...

EnglishJanuary 2023Politics6 min read

Restrictions on Transnational Gay Marriages Lifted, Following Four Years of Advocacy

Brian Hioe01/20/2023

In one of the last outgoing acts of Premier Su Tseng-chang’s cabinet, the Ministry of the Interior announced that restrictions on transnational gay marriages would be lifted last night. This took place through the Ministry of the Interior issuing a letter to the Department of Household registration asking it to amend relevant procedures. It is expected that the changes will be implemented after the Lunar New Year...

EnglishGender/SexualityJanuary 2023Social Movements6 min read

Tax Rebate Delayed Until At Least April, Following Opposition Pushback

Brian Hioe01/19/2023

Political contention continues over the Tsai administration’s proposed 6,000 NT tax refund. Namely, the proposal has come under fire from opposition lawmakers. Although it was originally expected that the tax fund would be issued as early as next month or possibly in March, because of the failure of the proposed refund to clear the legislature, now the refund is not expected until April...

EnglishJanuary 2023Politics5 min read

Control Yuan Calls for Reform of Migrant Worker System for Agricultural Sector

Brian Hioe01/17/2023

Control Yuan members Wang Mei-yu, Wang Yu-ling, and Upay Radiw Kanasaw held a press conference late last month to call attention to the lack of pathways for migrant workers to work in the agricultural sector. Namely, compounded with the agricultural sector’s shortage of workers, this has resulted in a “symbiotic” relationship between the agricultural sector and migrant workers that have fled their workplace, commonly referred to as “runaway” migrant workers...

EnglishJanuary 2023LaborSocial Movements5 min read

William Lai Elected as DPP Chair in Uncontested Vote

Brian Hioe01/16/2023

William Lai was confirmed as the DPP’s next chairperson during chair elections yesterday. Lai ran uncontested, as a result of which he won with 99.65% of votes...

EnglishJanuary 2023Politics5 min read

Legislation Aims to Deter Property Speculation

Brian Hioe01/15/2023

New legal changes that have cleared the legislature aims to deter speculation on property prices, at a time in which real estate has become unaffordable in Taiwan for all but the wealthy. This is particularly the case for young people, with it currently requiring one to not eat or drink for sixteen years in order to purchase real estate in Taipei. Likewise, as with many other places in the world, there are many empty housing units in Taiwan because they are held by developers or wealthy individuals hoarding properties. 11.94% of homes, consisting of 876,000 units, were empty in 2020...

EnglishJanuary 2023Politics4 min read

Arts/Culture

Calling For a Return to Sinocentrism in the Name of Opposing It: Responding to ‘Reconsidering Sinophone Studies’

Re/writing COVID-19 in China: Solidarity as Metonym for Historical Truth?

How Taipei Became the Home of Live Comedy During the Pandemic

International

KMT Seeks to Attack Tsai Administration Over US and Chinese Vessels Passing Near Itu Aba/Taiping Island

Natural Disaster Disinformation Leans on Conspiratorial Thinking

China Threatens to End ECFA Ahead of Elections

Interviews

Cartoons as a Tool for Democracy: A Conversation with Stellina Chen

Radio New Bloom #19: Coen Blaauw on Thirty Years of Pro-Taiwan Advocacy in Washington

Radio New Bloom #18: SueAnn Shiah on HuanDao

Politics

Hundreds Gather in Daan Park for Taipei Peace Rally for Palestine

Hou and Ko Register Separate Runs, Gou Withdraws From Election

Pan-Blue Unity Ticket Dissolves Spectacularly with Televised Spat Between Candidates

Social Movements

January 2023

Killing of Opposition Politician Should Raise Questions Over Taiwan’s Backing of Eswatini

Volcano Mine Sales to Taiwan Come Under Fire from Pan-Blue Camp

Nationwide Data Leaks Raise Security Concerns

What Does the Tsai Administration’s Cabinet Reshuffle Indicate?

What Would the Implications of a McCarthy Visit to Taiwan Be?

Tax Rebate Delayed Until At Least April, Following Opposition Pushback

William Lai Elected as DPP Chair in Uncontested Vote

Legislation Aims to Deter Property Speculation

Hundreds Gather in Daan Park for Taipei Peace Rally for Palestine

Wave of Racism Sweeps Taiwanese Social Media Over Plans to Allow for Indian Migrant Workers

Hou and Ko Register Separate Runs, Gou Withdraws From Election

Pan-Blue Unity Ticket Dissolves Spectacularly with Televised Spat Between Candidates

Hundreds Gather in Daan Park for Taipei Peace Rally for Palestine

Hou and Ko Register Separate Runs, Gou Withdraws From Election

Pan-Blue Unity Ticket Dissolves Spectacularly with Televised Spat Between Candidates

Hou You-yi Emphasizes Chinese Culture in Cultural Policy Stances