It’s hard to believe that 2014 is coming to an end.
Let’s recap what happened in Taiwan in 2014….
March:
3/18 – 4/10 Sunflower Movement
Hundreds of student arrived at the Taiwan Legislative Yuan (LY) to protest against the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement (CSSTA) and the method that the LY used to pass such an agreement. Students broke into the LY and started their occupy movement. Initially demanding public clause-by-clause review of the CSSTA, the students later demanded rejection of the CSSTA, ratification of legislation that would closely monitor future agreements with China, and citizen conferences discussing constitutional amendment.
While about 300 students stayed in the LY, thousands of citizens gathered outside the building to show support.
Read some thoughts on the students’ motives: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/08/12/two-sides-to-taiwans-economic-choice-with-china/
3/23 – Students Occupy Executive Yuan
As tensions rose in the LY, students went to the Executive Yuan (EY) in order to relieve the pressure at the LY. This led to a clash between policemen and students.
Read a policeman’s account of the event: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/06/26/the-night-at-executive-yuan/
4/10: Students Occupy Movement ends
After almost two months, the students ended their occupy movement, but the Sunflower Movement continues on.
Read some thoughts on why we need to keep working together to fight for Taiwan: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/10/31/heart-of-the-matter/
3/30: Sunflower Movement March in Ketagalan Boulevard
More than 500,000 people gathered in Ketagalan Boulevard to march and to pressure the Taiwanese government to meet the students’ demands.
Read more: http://thediplomat.com/2014/03/hundreds-of-thousands-protest-against-trade-pact-in-taiwan/
View pictures of the event:
https://www.tumblr.com/search/ketagalan%20boulevard
http://thehiddenonlooker.com/lens_portfolio/330-demonstration/https://www.tumblr.com/search/ketagalan%20boulevard
3/30: “Tales of Taiwan – Civil Movements” workshop at Rutgers University
As the students in Taiwan pushed for change, Taiwanese-American students became curious about Taiwan’s history of civil movements. Covering civil movements from the Formosa Incident to the Anti-Media Monopoly and ending with the Sunflower Movement, Outreach for Taiwan spoke to undergraduate students at Rutgers University.
Read about the event: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/04/18/tales-of-taiwan-civil-movements-at-rutgers-university/
April:
4/22: Lin Yi-hsiung Begins 8-day Hunger Strike Against Construction of Fourth Nuclear Power Plant
72 year-old former DPP chairman Lin Yi-hsiung began his hunger strike to protest against the construction of Taiwan’s fourth nuclear power plant and to call for an amendment to the referendum law. Thousands of people marched in Taipei on April 27 and were forcibly evicted by riot police with water cannons.
Watch a debate about the necessity of nuclear energy: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/04/29/nuclear-energy-or-not/
4/17: Columbia University Taiwan Democracy Panel
Columbia University’s Taiwanese American Student Association (TASA) and Hong Kong Students and Scholars Society (HKSS) co-hosted a panel talk about the Sunflower Movement and its implications for Hong Kong.
Read an overview of the event: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/04/20/2014-columbia-university-taiwan-democracy-panel-talk/
May:
5/11-5/18: Taiwanese American Heritage Week
Across the US, thousands of Taiwanese-Americans gathered to celebrate their unique heritage.
Read about the festivals that took place in cities throughout the US: http://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2014/05/taiwanese-american-heritage-week-fest/
5/25: Passport to Taiwan
This year’s annual celebration of Taiwanese culture and heritage in NYC featured performances by two performing art troupes from Taiwan, a display of products made by Taiwanese bike manufacturing companies, and high-class cuisine created by four award-winning Taiwanese chefs.
Read more about the events at the celebration: http://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2013/05/passport-to-taiwan-festival-in-new-york/
June:
6/9: Taiwanese-designed Hairpin Wins 2014 Singapore 3D Printing Competition
Taiwan’s Industrial Technological Research Institute won the 2014 Singapore International Jewelry 3D Competition, which was organized by Nanyang Technological University, with its “Orchid-Spirit” hairpin.
View pictures of the winning piece: http://www.3ders.org/articles/20140611-itri-taiwan-orchid-spirit-hairpin-design-wins-2014-singapore-3d-printing-competition.html
6/25-28: First Ministerial Level Contact between Taiwan and China
On the first trip by a senior Chinese official to Taiwan in 65 years, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office director Zhang Zhijun was met with violent protests by hundreds of Taiwanese citizens.
6/28: Democracy Tautin in NJ
Leaders of the Sunflower Movement talked about their experiences during the occupation of the Legislative Yuan and spoke about their goals for the future.
Read an overview of the event: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/07/03/inside-the-legislative-yuan-with-democracy-tautin/
May:
5/21: Taipei MRT tragedy
A 21 year-old student attacked and killed four people on the Taipei MRT.
Read more about the tragedy: http://shanghaiist.com/2014/05/23/taiwan-mourns-and-reflects-on-mrt-tragedty.php
July:
7/31: Kaohsiung gas explosions
A series of gas explosions in Kaohsiung killed at least 25 people and injured almost 300 others.
Read more about how the Kaohsiung gas explosion showed the dividedness of Taiwan’s politicians: http://thinking-taiwan.com/even-in-misery-this-house-is-divided/
August:
8/11: Shen Lyu-Shun calls for US leaders to include Taiwan in International Discussions
Amidst increased economic, social, and cultural integration between Taiwan and China, Taiwan risks losing its international presence and authority and being completely overshadowed by China. Washington’s top Taiwanese diplomat Shen Lyu-Shun called for US leaders to support Taiwan and its inclusion in key international discussions.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/aug/11/taiwans-top-diplomat-seeks-us-help-in-emerging-fro/
September:
9/13: Keep Taiwan Free rally
Hundreds of people gathered in Times Square to support and to spread awareness about Taiwanese democracy.
Read a summary of our events during the week leading up to the rally: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/09/08/a-big-week/
Watch a recap video and see pictures of the event: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/09/30/keep-taiwan-free-rally-2014-a-recap/
Read our thoughts about organizing and participating in the rally: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/10/16/if-we-dont-who-will/
Read about the perks that we offered: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/12/04/perks-and-reflections/
9/25: Congress urges Kelly to begin Taiwan Policy review process
20 years after the last time the US conducted a review of its Taiwan Policy, 29 members of Congress urged Secretary of State John Kerry to conduct a long overdue Taiwan Policy review.
Taiwan supports Umbrella Movement
During the Umbrella Movement, tens of thousands of Hong Kong students participated in a civil disobedience movement to protest a proposed change in the Hong Kong electoral system. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world rallied to provide material and emotional support.
Read about the Umbrella Movement: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/portfolio/09222014-hong-kong-students-protest/
Read an analysis of the Umbrella Movement and its relevance to Taiwan: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/09/27/hong-kong-faces-same-fear-and-danger-as-taiwan/
October:
10/10: National Day
October 10, also known as the National Day of Taiwan, is often inaccurately considered to be Taiwan’s birthday.
Read our thoughts about this controversial day: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/10/10/when-is-taiwans-birthday/
http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/10/09/musings-on-double-ten-day/
Read our thoughts about the meaning of Taiwanese identity: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/10/10/highlighting-the-uniqueness-of-taiwanese-identity-on-double-ten/
10/11: “Let Me Stand Like a Taiwanese” event in NYC
Patrick Huang (黃再添) and Martha Wang (鄞美珠) spoke about their experiences being on the blacklist during the Martial Law period of Taiwan.
Read an overview of the event: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/10/22/let-me-stand-like-a-taiwanese/
10/17: KANO begins first tour of the US
Incorporating elements of Taiwanese history and culture, “KANO” tells the true, moving story of the uniquely multiethnic Kano baseball team and the origins of Taiwanese baseball. “KANO” joins “Cape No. 7″ and “Seediq Bale” to complete the trilogy of Japanese colonization films by Director Umin Boya (馬志翔) and Co-Producers Wei-Te Sheng (魏德聖) and Jimmy Huang (黃志明).
Read our review: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/11/11/kano-hits-a-home-run-in-the-us/
10/21-10/25: Taiwan Excellence Showcase in NYC Showcasing Taiwanese products ranging from vases to bicycles, the Taiwan Excellence Showcase traveled around the world to display and celebrate the quality and ingenuity of Taiwanese products.
Read more: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/10/22/made-in-taiwan-in-new-york/
10/25: Taipei Gay Pride parade
More than 65,000 people marched in Taipei to support LGBT rights.
Read a brief summary of the event: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/portfolio/10252014-thousands-march-in-taipeis-gay-pride-parade/
November:
11/5: Six Taiwanese-Americans elected to Congress and State Legislature
In this year’s midterm elections, two Congressional Representatives, two State Representatives, one State Treasurer, and one State Supreme Court Judge are Taiwanese-Americans.
Read more: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/11/13/taiwanese-americans-in-midterm-elections/
11/29: 9-in-1 Mayoral Elections
The ruling KMT party suffered a historic defeat, losing its traditional stronghold of Taipei to independent candidate Ko Wen-je and several other counties to the DPP.
Read our thoughts on candidate Ko Wen-je: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/10/02/ko-wen-jes-gaffe-being-honest/
Read about the Taipei mayoral debate: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/11/26/taipei-mayor-debate-brings-up-issues-on-concerns/
December:
12/10: Human Rights Day
Despite Taiwan’s thriving democracy, a number of human rights issues in Taiwan are still overlooked.
Read about the #RightsforTW movement:
- English version: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/12/09/rights4tw-en/
- Chinese version: http://outreachfortaiwan.org/2014/12/09/rights4tw-ch/
Thank you for your support! We look forward to outreaching for Taiwan even more in 2015!
OFTaiwan 