Tsai Ing-Wen

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

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

The Tsai Administration To Turn Over A New Leaf Though A Cabinet And Premier Reshuffle?

Brian Hioe
With Lin Chuan's resignation as premier and his replacement by William Lai, as well as an impending cabinet shuffle, changes would be afoot in the Tsai administration. As has been pointed out, very likely the Tsai administration has its eye on midterm approval ratings with its reshuffle, but the switch is probably also aimed at turning over a new leaf in the public eye...
EnglishPoliticsSeptember 20176 min read

Recent Comments By Stephen Yates Return To American Disrespect For Taiwanese Democracy

Brian Hioe
A recent letter in the Taipei Times by Tom Lee, head of the Friends of Tsai Overseas and president of the Taiwan Daily, reflecting on comments by Stephen Yates, a known “friend of Taiwan” and former US deputy national security advisor proves not only an interesting symptom of the blind spots in how many Taiwanese independence advocates conceive of US-Taiwan relations, but illustrates how many American "friends of Taiwan" fundamentally do not respect Taiwanese democracy, no matter what they might claim otherwise...
America and the Asia PacificAugust 2017EnglishInternational9 min read