Focus Taiwan: Young candidates, underdogs prevail in several legislative races

Taipei, Jan. 12 (CNA) Taiwan’s legislative elections saw several young politicians prevail in high-profile races, and some candidates claimed victory independent of the country’s political mainstream dominated by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Kuomintang (KMT). … In the 79 races in which candidates were directly elected rather than through a party vote for legislators-at-large, […]

Current Affairs Taiwan (CAT) 台灣時事 12.30.2019 Episode 26

This week, hosts Michael Turton (麥哲恩) and Courtney Donovan Smith (石東文) discuss the presidential debate, the future of the KMT, polling and how youth have turned away from the KMT. The “anti-infiltration” bill proposed by the DPP causes concerns, as does the infiltration itself–but it’s a tricky line to balance if freedoms are to be […]

Taiwan Quick Take: NPP tops youth poll, KMT at 2.99%

Depending on where you stand on the political spectrum, a poll held of 11,369 high school and university students was either very good news, middling news, or very, very dire news.  Of those students, it’s unclear how many of the college level students were of voting age, but a rough guess might be about half.  […]

Current Affairs Taiwan (CAT) 台灣時事 12.30.2019 Episode 26

This week, hosts Michael Turton (麥哲恩) and Courtney Donovan Smith (石東文) discuss the presidential debate, the future of the KMT, polling and how youth have turned away from the KMT. The “anti-infiltration” bill proposed by the DPP causes concerns, as does the infiltration itself–but it’s a tricky line to balance if freedoms are to be […]

Taiwan Quick Take: DPP, KMT dress for sovereignty battle

Both the KMT and DPP are campaigning on the battle for sovereignty in this election. KMT candidate Han Kuo-yu has repeatedly campaigned with the warning that this election is about the survival of the Republic of China.  By this it can be assumed he is referring to the ideals, history, name and future of a […]

Taiwan Quick Take: Anti-infiltration bill concerns

That the People’s Republic of China has an active campaign to infiltrate into Taiwan’s society, media, temples and political process is without doubt, and Taiwan is by most international assessments is “ground zero” for the PRC’s United Front activities.  Other countries–most recently Australia–have passed laws targeting similar infiltration activities in their countries.  The threat is […]