Tsai administration

Vaccine Requirements Introduced for Entertainment Venues, COVID Cases Found in Kaohsiung, Hsinchu

Brian Hioe
The CECC, which coordinates Taiwan’s response to COVID-19, has announced a new requirement necessitating proof of vaccination for entry to bars, nightclubs, tea parlors with hostess services, and beauty parlors. This is in response to recent weeks that have seen cases return to the double digits, as well as a large number of imported cases...
EnglishJanuary 2022Politics5 min read

Will the Tsai Administration Lift Barriers on Food Imports from Fukushima?

Brian Hioe
The issue of food imports from Japan’s Fukushima prefecture is expected to become a contested issue for the Tsai administration in the near future. This takes place in the wake of a December 2020 referendum that saw the DPP victorious, with the DPP’s positions on all four referendum questions winning out over the KMT, in addition to the referendum failing to meet benchmarks to be binding. Some reports suggest that the DPP will next move to lift the ban...
EnglishJanuary 2022Politics5 min read

12 Domestic Cases Reported by CECC, Including Cluster at Factory, With Uptick in Cases in Past Days

Brian Hioe
The Central Epidemic Command Center, which coordinates Taiwan’s response to COVID-19, announced 12 domestic cases today. 58 imported cases were also reported, along with no deaths. Of particular concern are that four of the cases from today are from an electronics factory in Taoyuan. This occurred due to a previously known case that worked at the Taoyuan International Airport, who transmitted it to her child and husband and friend, who then spread it to four co-workers. The factory has 280 workers, who have all been sent into quarantine, and the factory has halted work...
EnglishJanuary 2022Politics5 min read

Presidential Office Criticized Over New Year’s Performance by Indigenous Groups

Brian Hioe
Indigenous groups have been critical after a performance held by the Presidential Office as part of new year’s celebrations. In particular, the performance featured five performers that were supposedly dressed as Amis Indigenous, singing traditional songs. Nevertheless, Indigenous groups such as the Indigenous Youth Front have criticized this performance as an act of cultural appropriation, seeing as the clothing worn by the performers was not authentic to cultural customs, appeared to be cheaply rented costumes, and the songs performed fit Han stereotypes regarding Indigenous traditional music...
EnglishIndigenousJanuary 2022RaceSocial Movements5 min read

No, the KMT Did Not Lose in the Referendum Because of Wang Leehom

Brian Hioe
The national referendum held last Saturday resulted in a defeat for the KMT, with the four referendum proposals that the KMT advocated all being voted down. As such, the Tsai administration has a much stronger position going into the 2022 midterm elections, with the DPP having called for all four proposals to be voted down. The four issues that were voted on were the relocation of a liquified natural gas terminal off the coast of Datan, Taoyuan, the restart of nuclear reactor #4, US pork imports, and whether referendums are held on the same date as elections...
December 2021EnglishPolitics5 min read