May 2019

Huawei Ban by Google Could Lead to Further Escalation of US-China Trade War

The US-China trade war has significantly escalated in the past week, with American tech giant Google cutting off Chinese telecommunications company Huawei from firmware updates for its Android operating system, the Google Play store, and Google apps. It is highly possible that China will take some retaliatory action against America in coming days, though it is unclear what form such retaliatory actions would take...

Demonstration Against Chinese Annexation Efforts Takes Place Outside Legislative Yuan

An alliance of NGOs, civil society organizations, and student activist groups held a demonstration against Chinese efforts directed at annexing Taiwan outside the Qunxian Building of the Legislative Yuan earlier this evening. Significantly, this included many individuals who had been key figures in the Sunflower Movement and post-Sunflower Movement activists...

Mourning and Melancholia in Daguan

With the Daguan Community in Banqiao, New Taipei, it appears that after negotiating with the Veterans’ Affairs Council, they are still unable to avoid the fate of having their homes demolished. The Daguan Self-Help Association and Daguan residents have decided to hold an exhibition which includes poetry, graffiti, and protest memorabilia—to share their recollections of the protest struggle...

It’s Taiwan, Not China, Which Stands for the Human Rights of LGBT+ People

As of May 24th, same-sex couples can get married in Taiwan. Legislation passed last week fulfills the 2017 ruling by Constitutional Court which states that prohibiting same-sex marriage is against the constitution. The passage of this law also shows that Taiwan shares the values of democracy, freedom, and human rights with other developed countries internationally, and significantly, that Taiwan is a different country than China, which has enforced regulations undermining the rights of its LGBT+ residents...

Two Days of Celebrations in Taiwan with Historic First Gay Marriages in Asia

Celebrations have taken place across Taiwan in the last two days, with Taiwan’s first gay marriages taking place yesterday after the passage of gay marriage into law last week, and a mass wedding banquet held today on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office. As Taiwan is the first country to legalize gay marriage in Asia, these are the historic first gay marriages to take place in Asia...

“Fridays for Future” Protest Calling for Environmental Action Held Outside Legislative Yuan

An environmental demonstration organized by thirty environmental groups took place earlier this afternoon outside the Legislative Yuan. The demonstration proved highly visual, featuring a number of creative performances by artists. Notably, a large number of protest participants were children, as the event was framed as being part of the global “Fridays for Future” movement called for by high schooler climate activist Greta Thunberg...