Economic Democracy Union

Thousands Demonstrate Against KMT Cuts to Defense Spending

Brian Hioe
Thousands demonstrated on Sunday against the KMT’s cuts to defense spending, which reduced spending from 1.25 trillion NT to 780 billion NT. The main organizer of the demonstration was the Economic Democracy Union, the politically progressive social movement organization that played a key role in the 2014 Sunflower Movement and 2024 Bluebird Movement...
EnglishMay 2026PoliticsSelf-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements4 min read

May Day Sees Demonstrations for Pension Reforms, Against the ROC Constitution

Brian Hioe
Organized labor groups demonstrated on May 1st, commemorated as May Day or International Workers’ Day in different parts of the world. It is estimated that 6,000 were in attendance. What was most distinctive about the march this year was the inclusion of migrant labor unions, not only with their participation but also the incorporation of labor demands for migrant workers into the core demands of the demonstration. The march began at Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office Building, then proceeded to the Legislative Yuan. An action theater skit was held of workers taking hammers to individuals dressed as politicians...
EnglishFeaturedLaborMay 2026Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements4 min read

Tatung Ownership Struggle Comes to an End, but Much Remains Opaque

Brian Hioe
The Tatung Company ownership struggle has come to a temporary end, with a group of investors led by Wang Kuang-hsiang, the head of the Shanyuan Group and a construction magnate, claiming seven out of nine seats on Tatung’s board of directors last week. After elections, Tatung’s shares rose by 10% in value, a sign of investor confidence in the company. However, much remains opaque about what exactly took place within the company...
EnglishOctober 2020Politics11 min read

Tatung Investment Controversy Leads to Conflict Between Sunflower Movement Figures

Brian Hioe
An unusual controversy has broken out regarding the Tatung Company, one of Taiwan’s most recognizable brands. Tatung primarily produces electronics and appliances and is sometimes thought of as Taiwan’s most recognizable appliance brand. The controversy is unusual because of the involvement of political figures such as former NPP chair Huang Kuo-chang and Economic Democracy Union convener Lai Chung-chiang, both of whom are lawyers that were involved in civil society activism in the years prior to the 2014 Sunflower Movement and who were major figures during the movement...
EnglishJuly 2020Politics9 min read