Tsai administration

Why Have Some Reacted Against Comparisons Between Catalonia And Taiwan?

Brian Hioe
With the recent independence referendum in Catalonia, a flurry of comparisons have been drawn between what lessons that referendum in Catalonia could draw for Taiwan. At the same time, however, there has been the opposite tendency, to insist that referendum in Catalonia does not offer lessons from Taiwan because of the differences in circumstances between the two areas...
Cross StraitEnglishInternationalOctober 201712 min read

Why Did China Kidnap Lee Ming-Che, Anyway?

Brian Hioe
While Taiwanese human rights advocate Lee Ming-Che remains imprisoned in China under murky charges of “subverting state power” and attempting to encourage “multiparty rule” in China, it may be worth considering the question of what exactly China hopes to gain out of Lee’s imprisonment, if at all. Obviously, in all likelihood, China wishes to intimidate Taiwan, but in precisely what way does it wish to intimidate Taiwan?...
Cross StraitEnglishInternationalOctober 20176 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

Rally Against ROC Constitution Held In Liberty Plaza By Pro-Taiwan Civil Society Groups

Brian Hioe
A demonstration to call for normalization of Taiwan’s international status was held at Liberty Plaza tonight, calling for the removal of Taiwan’s status as a “province” of China in the ROC constitution and the permanent connection of Taiwan and China enshrined in the ROC constitution through the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area...
EnglishSelf-DeterminationSeptember 2017Social Movements7 min read

Lee Ming-Che Trial Provokes Outrage, But What Now For Efforts To Secure His Release?

Brian Hioe
Outrage broken out in Taiwan with the appearance of detained Taiwanese human rights advocate Lee Ming-Che in Chinese courts yesterday. Lee pled guilty to “subverting state power” and undermining the authority of the CCP in attempting to encourage multi-party in democracy. But what now for efforts to secure Lee's release?...
EnglishSelf-DeterminationSeptember 2017Social Movements10 min read