Taiwan’s Authoritarian Past Relegated to Statue Graveyard
An hour’s drive from central Taipei lies a wasteland for Chiang Kai-shek statues, symbols of Taiwan’s authoritarian past.
Category Archives: International
Explained! The Futenma Base Controversy in Okinawa
This video in our Explained! series is a basic review of why the US Marine airbase at Futenma in Okinawa has become such a source of enduring controversy.
Indonesian Migrants in Taiwan Face Growing Discrimination
Like many of her fellow Indonesians in Taiwan, Etik Nurhalimah works for a family caring for an elderly relative. During her time as a migrant worker, she has also managed to fulfil a lifelong dream: gain a degree in English literature, while also winning a literature prize and having her story made into a film along the way.
Japan’s Weak Response to Myanmar Coup
In comparison to other G7 nations, Japan has been taking a weak approach to the recent coup in Myanmar, led by the country’s Tatmadaw, or military forces. This includes Japan’s refusal to impose sanctions, official statements that have been widely viewed as being too soft, and a reference to the Myanmar military’s top diplomat as being the “foreign minister.”
United States Urged to End “Forever Wars”
The US Congress and President Joe Biden are facing fresh pressure to end “forever wars” abroad and to pursue a US foreign policy that is “consistent with the nation’s legal, human, and civil rights obligations, and the moral authority that the United States has long claimed on these issues.”
Pelosi Announces Probe Into Insurrection Incited by Trump
After the Senate’s decision over the weekend to acquit former US President Donald Trump for inciting the January 6 violence on Capitol Hill, Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has announced that she has authorized a 9/11-style commission to further probe the events of that day.
Healthcare Privatization Undermined US Response to Covid-19
A panel of policy experts and medical professionals convened to examine the healthcare legacy of Donald Trump have concluded in a detailed report that the former US president’s sweeping regulatory rollbacks and full-scale assault on the already decimated public health infrastructure severely undermined the nation’s fight against Covid-19 and caused tens of thousands of preventable deaths.
Sri Lanka Halts Another Joint Development with Japan
Sri Lanka has announced that it is pulling out of a deal with Japan to develop a section of its main port of Colombo, marking the second time within six months that a major agreement has fallen through.
Ilhan Omar Warns US Democrats on Limiting Covid Relief Payment
US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has warned that corporate Democrats’ ongoing effort to further restrict eligibility for the new round of US$1,400 direct payments risks shedding progressive support for a final coronavirus relief package.
Bernie Sanders Praises Efforts to End Yemen War
US Senator Bernie Sanders was among those welcoming the White House announcement that the United States will limit its role in the Saudi-led war on Yemen by ending support for “offensive operations,” with the Vermont Independent calling the development “a tribute to the work of so many activists over the years.”
