Democratic Progressive Party

With Recent Comments, Are Ko Wen-Je And William Lai Misreading Trends In Taiwanese Identity?

Brian Hioe
With Ko Wen-Je and William Lai increasingly taking flak from the public regarding statements that are perceived as too compromising of Taiwanese sovereignty to China, one generally suspects their attempt establish independent foreign relations with China is doomed if they aim to accomplish this through placating China. Both may be misreading current trends in Taiwanese identity and views of what Taiwan's international status should be...
EnglishJuly 2017Politics7 min read

China’s Isolation Of The DPP Feeds Taiwanese Independence

Joseph Lewis Reid
As we see in Panama's breaking of diplomatic ties with Taiwan or the kidnapping of Lee Ming-Che, does China think international bullying of Taiwan is effective? What is the end goal? We can assume the CCP's eventual end goal is "reunification", but it is difficult to comprehend how political and economic bullying will win over the hearts and minds of the Taiwanese people...
EnglishInternationalJune 2017Regional Tensions3 min read

Uncivilize The Civil Code

萬庭威
The Council of Grand Justices' Interpretation 748 as realizing marriage equality is supposed to be a milestone, if we are to do or say the appropriate thing. But in reality, if we read the interpretation a bit more carefully, we can raise several important issues which have been neglected to date. The importance of these issues lay in that this article cannot be seen as merely concerning marriage equality, but have broad effects on sexual freedoms, marriage and even the Civil Code itself in Taiwan...
#18Brian HioeEnglishGender/SexualityMay 2017Social Movements10 min read

The First Asian “Country,” “Place”, Or “Chinese Province” To Realize Marriage Equality?

Brian Hioe
International media outlets have sometimes referred to Taiwan as the first “country” in Asia to legalize gay marriage by court ruling. More commonly, Taiwan has been referred to as an “island,” “place”, or without any reference to what kind of polity Taiwan is altogether, but still stressing the historic nature of the event as a first in Asia. This is revealing of the hypocrisy of international media...
#18EnglishGender/SexualityMay 2017Social Movements5 min read

The Ball Is Back In The DPP’s Court Regarding Marriage Equality In Taiwan

Brian Hioe
After the ruling of the Council of Grand Justice’s yesterday, the legislature will need to amend Taiwan’s Civil Code to allow same-sex marriage within two years. But this opens the way for backsliding by a DPP legislature which has already proven recalcitrant on the issue. The DPP has already shown early signs of backsliding in its reactions and so means will need to be found of putting pressure on the DPP to live up to past promises...
#18EnglishGender/SexualityMay 2017Social Movements9 min read