After the World Health Organization failed to send an invite to Taiwan to attend the 71st World Health Assembly, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) affirmed the United States’ firm support for Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer. The WHA is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), and is attended by delegates from all member-states. This year’s meeting will be held May 21 to 26 in Geneva, Switzerland. AIT posted in Chinese and English
Read morePolitics
Domestic and international politics of Taiwan
Police, Reporters, and Protesters Injured as Pension Reform Protests Turn Violent
[Picture: CNA] Protesters dragged police and reporters into the crowd and beat them up, as violence erupted outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei City, yesterday, April 25. Up to 84 police, and 11 reporters were counted among the injured this morning, while one protester lost a finger when he came into contact with razor-wire, while attempting to break open the gate. Protesters threw smoke bombs and water bottles at police guarding the building, which houses Taiwan’s legislature. The protesters also,
Read moreTaiwan Thanks President Trump for Signing Taiwan Travel Act
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President thanked the US President for signing the Taiwan Travel Act, putting into law the encouragement of high-level visits between officials of the two countries. President Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act Friday evening, March 16. The act was passed unanimously by the US Congress January 9, 2018. Ministry of Foreign Affairs MOFA said that Taiwan-US relations are close and amicable. In recent years, through the joint efforts of both
Read morePetition Calls for Swedish Tax Office to Remove Designation of Taiwan as “Province of China”
The Swedish Taiwanese Friendship Association has launched a petition to demand the Swedish Tax Office remove the designation of Taiwan as a province of China. The tax office announced it would change the name starting today, March 12, 2018. Ironically, the tax office announcement was made February 28 this year, on the anniversary of the “228 Incident.” The STFA petition calls the term “Taiwan, Province of China” offensive. The Swedish Tax Office claims that the name change is a purely
Read moreKMT Youth League Trashes Independence Camp
Four members of the KMT Youth League were arrested today after a group of around 10 vandalized a camp set up by a group of Taiwan independence advocates camped outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei City this evening. At around 5:20pm, the group of Chinese Nationalists entered the tents and tore banners, splashed red paint, turned over tables and chairs, and threw pamphlets and materials around. The group filmed the action and broadcast video live to the ROC Blue Power
Read moreUS Congress Passes Taiwan Travel Act
A bill calling for high-level visits between American and Taiwanese officials was passed by the US House of Representatives yesterday, January 9. HR 535, The Taiwan Travel Act, calls for an end to the self-imposed restrictions on high-level visits between the two countries that have been in place since Washington recognized the People’s Republic of China in 1979. The USA has maintained unofficial relations with the Republic of China, the nominal ruler of Taiwan, in the ensuing 39 years, using
Read moreProtesters Clash with Police over Labor Law Reform
[Picture: United Daily News] Protesters gathered outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei City today as the Social and Economic Committee of the Legislative Yuan and the Economic Commission continued to review revisions of the Labor Standards Act. At close to noon protesters charged the police line and clashes ensued. Shortly after, a second wave managed to break through, and a group of protesters occupied the front steps, sitting down and hooking arms to form a human chain. Serious conflict broke
Read morePro-China Thugs Beat up Student Protestors
China Unification Promotion Party members scuffled with students who had protested, and shut down a concert at National Taiwan University in Taipei City yesterday, Sunday, September 24. During the altercation, one of the CUPP members used an extendable baton to hit at least two students. The students required hospital treatment, one for a 3cm head laceration. National University Downgraded to Municipal Level The students were protesting a concert held by the China New Song television series (official English name: Sing!
Read moreCops Petitioned Over Shooting of Vietnamese Man
Taiwan International Worker’s Alliance (TIWA) members gathered outside the National Police Agency this morning to protest the killing of a Vietnamese man in Hsinchu August 31. The protestors handed over a petition calling for the release of video evidence of the shooting, and demanding a thorough investigation and report. The 27 year-old Vietnamese man named Nguyen was shot 9 times by police officers after a member of the public reported that a naked man was seen damaging a vehicle and
Read moreMongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission to be Dissolved: Lim Applauds
Executive Yuan Cabinet spokesman Hsu Kuo-yung today announced that the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission will be dissolved at the end of the year. No provisions were made to fund the MTAC in the 2018 budget. New Power Party legislator Freddy Lim applauded the move, saying that the people of Taiwan waste hundreds of millions of dollars every year funding the MTAC on the basis of a fantasy that Tibetan and Mongolian affairs are the affairs of Taiwan. Hsu said
Read moreMayor and Deputy Director Hospitalized after Punch-up
[Cover picture: United Daily News] Miaoli City Mayor Qiu Bingkun (邱炳坤) and Miaoli County Government Deputy Director of Labor and Youth Development Tu Ronghui (涂榮輝) both ended up in hospital after coming to blows at a lunchtime meeting yesterday, Friday, July 14. Mr Tu was sent to hospital and stayed under observation for 6 hours after being treated for bruises to his face and arm. Mr Qiu was admitted to hospital in the evening after suffering dizziness and vomiting and
Read more