Taiwanese independence

Similarities And Differences Between Catalonia And Taiwan

Ferran Pérez Mena
During past few years, the conflict between China and Taiwan has resonated more frequently than one would think in Catalan media, which has historically been ignorant of anything that occurs in Asia—except with regards to some news items about China. It is important to note that the attention given by Catalan media to this conflict is in part because of the more or less accurate perception that recent political developments related to the disputed international status of Taiwan are similar to what Catalonia has experienced in the past decade. The aim of this article is therefore to analyze the similarities and differences between the political projects of "independence" in Taiwan and Catalonia...
EnglishOctober 2017Self-DeterminationSocial Movements11 min read

Lessons For Taiwan From The Catalan And Kurdish Referendums?

Brian Hioe
In past days, youth activist and civil society groups in Taiwan have expressed support of Catalonia following the Spanish government’s use of brutal force to put down the Catalan independence referendum. This is not too surprising, seeing as youth activist groups in Taiwan see a sense of shared cause between the Catalan people’s struggle for self-determination and Taiwan’s own struggle for independence. Yet the outcome of not only the Catalan referendum, but also the recent Kurdish referendum in Iraq, offers lessons for Taiwan regarding its own aspirations towards using referendum to settle longstanding questions regarding Taiwanese independence...
EnglishOctober 2017Self-DeterminationSocial Movements16 min read

No, William Lai Did Not Actually Affirm Support For Taiwanese Independence

Brian Hioe
Misleading reports in international media and even some domestic Taiwanese media have followed comments by recently appointed premier William Lai, with claims that Lai has stated support of Taiwanese independence, and made history as the first Taiwanese premier to openly express such sentiments. This is incorrect, given that Lai’s position has shifted on the issue, but rather is a misunderstanding which has resulted from past statements by Lai...
Cross StraitEnglishInternationalSeptember 20177 min read

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