November 2022

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Protests Take Place Across China in Wake of Zhengzhou Clashes, Urumqi Fire

Brian Hioe·
Videos that went viral in China last month showed FoxConn workers fleeing factories in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan, because of mandated lockdowns because of COVID-19. FoxConn is the Taiwanese-owned company that plays a large role in global iPhone production and is one of Taiwan’s major tech giants. FoxConn founder Terry Gou is one of Taiwan’s richest men, Gou having made forays into politics in recent years such as seeking the KMT’s presidential nomination in 2020
EnglishNovember 2022Politics
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Election Results in Maintenance of Pan-Blue Status Quo in Taiwanese Local Politics

Brian Hioe·
The results of nine-in-one elections today resulted in the KMT regaining control of traditional territories in Taoyuan, Keelung, and Taipei, while edging out the DPP competition. On the other hand, the DPP held onto its own traditional territories in southern Taiwan in Tainan and Kaohsiung. However, the DPP clearly was unable to gain new ground or to hold onto traditional pan-Blue territory that it had captured in past years
EnglishNovember 2022Politics
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Will the Referendum on Lowering the Voting Age Pass?

Brian Hioe·
The 2022 midterm elections have, in some ways, been characterized by the absence of any animating core issue. In past years, the national referendum has allowed for local elections to crystallize around specific issues. For preceding elections, this has ranged from legalizing gay marriage to nuclear energy, opening up Taiwan to pork imports from the US, and the name that Taiwan would compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics under. This year, the only issue being voted on is that of lowering the voting age from the current twenty years old to eighteen years old
2022 ElectionsEnglishNovember 2022Politics
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Fallism and Chiang Kai-Shek Statue Removal in Taiwan as a Means of Mobilization

Lwazi Bululu·
Midterm elections are around the corner and there has been a plethora of ballot box issues to choose from that will prove decisive in key races: from Indigenous issues, incumbents’ COVID response, alleged corruption, and so on. But one issue that is not going to feature at all will be that of transformative justice and the unresolved issue of the biggest symbol of authoritarianism: the bronze statue of Chiang Kai-Shek at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial. Which begs the question of the purpose of political iconoclasm, or image breaking, as a form of performative democracy
2022 ElectionsEnglishNovember 2022PoliticsSelf-DeterminationSocial MovementsTheory and History
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Tainan Mayoral Debate Sees Contestation About Public Safety

Brian Hioe·
The Tainan mayoral policy presentation was held on November 16th. This piece will focus on the two primary contenders, Hsieh Lung-chieh of the KMT, and incumbent Huang Wei-che of the DPP. The policy presentation took place in the form of each candidate being given twenty minutes to make a presentation. The presentation took place almost entirely in Taiwanese Hokkien, though Huang broke into Mandarin at some points
EnglishNovember 2022Politics
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Taichung Mayoral Debate Centers Air Pollution, Past Campaign Promises

Brian Hioe·
The Taichung mayoral debate took place on November 15th. This report will focus on the two primary candidates, incumbent Lu Shiow-yen of the KMT and challenger Tsai Chi-chang of the DPP. As with many of the other debates that have been held in the course of the election, there were three rounds. The first round consisted of opening statements, the second round consisted of questions from a panel of experts, and the third round consisted of closing statements
2022 ElectionsEnglishNovember 2022Politics
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