Taiwan People’s Party

Surprising Few, Chen Chi-mai Wins Kaohsiung Mayoral By-Election with Large Lead Over Opponents

Brian Hioe
It took few by surprise that Chen Chi-mai of the DPP was the winner of the Kaohsiung mayoral by-election today. Chen won by large margins, winning 70% of the vote, and defeating KMT candidate Jane Lee and TPP candidate Wu Yi-jheng. The by-election was the first by-election to replace a mayor who had been recalled from office in Taiwanese history...
August 2020EnglishPolitics10 min read

Comments by Ko at the TPP Congress Seek to Attack Tsai, While Appealing to Pan-Green Voters

Brian Hioe
Comments by Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je at the TPP's first national congress last week are telling about the current political orientation of the party, as well as the challenges it faces going forward. Ko raised eyebrows by calling for a ‘Silent Revolution” in Taiwanese politics at the party congress, a pointed criticism of the Tsai administration indicative of the party’s pan-Blue leanings. At the same time, Ko did not lean as heavily into pan-Blue rhetoric as much as he did during the TPP’s founding one year ago...
August 2020EnglishPolitics9 min read

Ko Wen-je Carries Out City-Based Exchange by Video Conference with Shanghai in Late July

Brian Hioe
An online video conference to commemorate city-based cross-strait exchanges between Taipei and Shanghai was held late last month. City-based cross-strait exchanges have taken place under the auspices of Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je since 2016. The meeting was held on July 22nd, with proceedings on the Taipei side taking place at the Regent Taipei, while proceedings for the Shanghai side took place at the Shanghai International Convention Center...
August 2020EnglishPolitics6 min read

DPP, NPP, and TPP Hold Press Conference Calling for Stronger Protections for Young Workers

Brian Hioe
Members of the DPP, NPP, and TPP held a joint press conference earlier this week, calling for stronger labor protections for young workers. Participants included DPP legislator Wu Yu-chin, NPP legislator Claire Wang, and TPP legislator Lai Hsiang-ling. The press conference was organized by the Taiwan Alliance for Advancement of Youth Rights and Welfare...
EnglishMay 2020Politics6 min read

Misogyny, Racism, and Homophobia Abound in 2020 Elections

Brian Hioe
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...
December 2019EnglishPolitics6 min read

Anger After Comments by Ko Regarding Victims of Political Persecution

Brian Hioe
As an unorthodox politician who originally campaigned in 2014 with the claim that he was a regular person that sought to enter politics, rather than a slick and polished member of the political establishment, Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je has established a reputation for gaffes over the years. It may not be surprising that Ko has once again provoked ire with a number of recent comments...
EnglishOctober 2019Politics9 min read