What happened? Without consulting the public, the Ma Administration rushed an application to join the AIIB, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (亞投行). Taiwan applied on March 30, just before the March 31 deadline to become a founding member, sparking a protest in Taipei on the morning of March 31, 2015 that grew to about 600 … Continue reading Implications and Complications of the AIIB
It has almost been a year since student protesters broke into the Legislative Yuan in Taipei and occupied Taiwan’s lawmaking body for 23 days in the spring of 2014. This event sparked more than 350,000 people to march the streets in opposition of the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement (CSSTA). Many worried that there was no … Continue reading Did the Sunflower Movement become irrelevant?
Tamkang University (淡江大學) student council will be holding their student council meeting mid-September. Among the names on the ballot for student council president is a student from Mainland China, candidate Tsai Bo Yi (蔡博藝). This sparked a huge debate about whether having a Mainland Chinese candidate should be allowed. Student leader of the Sunflower Movement, … Continue reading Sunflower Movement Leader Supports Mainland Chinese Student for Student Council President
This week, Wall Street Journal released an article titled: Taiwan Leaves Itself Behind . In it, the author outlines Taiwan's losing its edge by not signing a free service and trade agreement with China. The article condemns Taiwan for letting the opportunity of the Cross Strait Service and Trade Agreement (CSSTA) slip away due to the … Continue reading Two Sides to Taiwan’s Economic Choice With China
"Taiwan is my country, pure and simple. Whatever your race is, Taiwan, as a diverse society, has gained the love of all its people. They all identify themselves with the idea of Taiwan." - Wang Yung-Hsiang (王雲祥) of Democracy Tautin This past weekend, OFT drove down to Central Jersey to attend a talk hosted by Rutgers Taiwan … Continue reading Inside the Legislative Yuan with Democracy Tautin
While the Sunflower Movement was ongoing in Taiwan, I kept a close eye on the news and social media. I felt so proud of these students speaking up for that they believed in and for speaking up for the future of Taiwan. As I sat at home in the suburbs of NJ, I wanted to find … Continue reading #Art4TW – Say it with your nails
A little over 3 months ago, on March 23, 2014, students stormed and occupied the Taiwan Executive Yuan. Many students have given their accounts of that night, but we were able to get the story from the other side. "對不起，我站在他們身後，幾乎無能為力。我痛狠自己不知道該做些什麼，才能停止眼前的暴力。我只能目睹，一邊全身顫抖、一邊冷靜的紀錄下這一切。 I feel bad. I stood behind them, yet there was nothing I could do. I hate that I didn't know what I should have done to stop the violence seen through my eyes. I could only witness, shiver, and calmly record all these. 只要有人看見事實，你們的付出、犧牲才有意義。 If only people could see the truth, your devotion and sacrifice would mean something."
Art speaks louder than words. Outreach for Taiwan was asked to help hold an outreach event, in which we would help artist 劉宗榮 (Liu Tsung Jung) from Taiwan utilize his artwork to spark curiosity amongst individuals here in the NYC area, and create awareness about Taiwan's current situation. Liu was one of the young individuals who first broke … Continue reading #Art4TW – STAMPED! with 劉宗榮
Outreach for Taiwan has partnered up with the community and artist, Liu Tsung-Jung (劉宗榮), to promote Taiwan's situation through Artwork. Below are the postcards and all descriptions were provided by Ketty Chen. For more information, please contact us. "Illuminating Darkness" Sunflowers sprung on the floor of the Legislative Yuan. This painting is artist Liu Tsung-jung’s interpretation … Continue reading Liu Tsung-Jung (劉宗榮) – Postcards
On April 17, 2014, Columbia University's Taiwanese American Students Association (TASA) and Hong Kong Students and Scholars Society (HKSSS) joined together to host a panel talk about Taiwan's Sunflower Movement and it's implications to Hong Kong. OFT came to attend this talk and had the opportunity to hear from three great panelists.
OFTaiwan 