Written by Alan H. Yang. In May 2024, up to 100,000 people protested on Qingdao East Road, Taipei, against amendments to the Act Governing the Legislative Yuan’s Power, arguing these changes could expand legislative authority and undermine democracy. The protests saw significant involvement from the younger generation and led to the “Bluebird Action,” which leveraged digital technology for mobilisation.
Written by Brian Hioe. This article compares the Bluebird Movement to the 2014 Sunflower Movement, emphasizing how both large-scale protests were fundamentally driven by concerns over China’s influence rather than purely about domestic issues.
Written by Gunter Schubert. On May 20, Lai Ching-te became the fifth popularly elected president of the Republic of China, facing numerous challenges as Taiwan’s legislature’s lack of compromise hampers effective policymaking and risks paralysis. This article emphasizes the need for a culture of compromise and responsible political competition in Taiwan’s democracy.
Written by Dung-Shiu Yu. The Bluebird Movement in Taiwan, protesting against legislative reforms, has gained international attention. This article highlights a powerful display of intergenerational support and grassroots activism, the “grandparents’ topping-up participation.”
Ｗritten by Min-Yuan Hung. This article explores the evolution of democracy in Taiwan through key protest movements, highlighting that protecting the democratic way of life is a critical motivation for citizen activism in Taiwan. This narrative is essential to the Bluebird Movement and should not be overlooked.
Written by the Overseas Taiwanese Solidarity Against Legislative Power Abuse. A group of overseas Taiwanese formed a solidarity movement against legislative power abuse in Taiwan, addressing concerns about the opaque legislative process, subversion of the Constitution, and its detrimental impact on Taiwan’s stability and sovereignty. They aim to gather the collective voices of overseas Taiwanese, create constant pressure on the Legislative Yuan, and stand in solidarity with all the protesters in Taiwan.
Written by You-Hao Lai. This article critically examines the procedural and substantive constitutional issues raised by Taiwan’s recent legislative reform, focusing on how the expansion of legislative power may undermine Taiwan’s democratic principles and impact the rights of private entities.
Written by Eric Siu-kei Cheng. Science and Technology Studies (STS) is an interdisciplinary field that explores the co-production between technology and society. Taiwanese scholars adopt the lens of STS to explore diverse topics and provide critical insights to public policies and social activism. The upcoming 2024 annual meeting of the Taiwan STS Association, to be held in Taitung City, will focus on the theme of “rhythm,” exploring the role of time, temporality, and timing in the context of STS.
Written by Ling-Ming Huang. Taiwan’s semiconductor industry grew significantly in the 1970s and 1980s, driven by important government-led strategies aimed at developing manufacturing capabilities for integrated circuit (IC) products in Taiwan. These initiatives laid the foundation for Taiwan’s global dominance in the semiconductor sector and facilitated the establishment of key corporations like TSMC.
Written by Hui-Tzu Huang. The development of citizen power plants in Taiwan faces challenges such as the commercialization of energy cooperatives, centralized power grid infrastructure, and inconsistent regulations. Despite these obstacles, this article highlights the potential of citizen power plants to raise public awareness of energy issues and promote energy autonomy.
Written by Tim Schütz. This article explores the Kaohsiung Asthma Files Archive. This public-facing research archive gathers a diverse range of data to tell multi-faceted stories of Kaohsiung’s industrial sites and their transformations. It is also part of the global environmental justice data initiative, which fosters learning and knowledge sharing across locations through digital exchanges.
Written by Chia-Yun Lee. This article examines marketing narratives in fertility clinics, social media, and mainstream online media, revealing how egg freezing in Taiwanese society is seen as a form of insurance and a means to empower women. However, this technology also leads to personalising the risks of female infertility and reinforces social expectations of traditional gender roles.
Taiwan Insight 