A well informed citizenry is the foundation of our modern society. Every week, our news team for The Debrief brings you the most important stories on current affairs, diplomacy, business and human rights, in Asia and around the globe. Not only can we be well informed, but better informed, about the relationship between our lives, our communities, and the common world.
Is Taiwan the motherland of China?
Taiwan is a sovereign state today as the ROC, but Taiwan’s sovereignty does not ultimately depend on the ROC.
President Lai Ching-te’s Inaugural National Day Address: Taiwan’s International Persona
His intention is to utilize this inclusive stance to strengthen Taiwan’s collective identity and foster unity among its people—acknowledging that the journey of Taiwanese national identity formation is still a long way ahead.
The Continuous Rise of Taiwanese Subjectivity From Colonial Legacy to Democratic Era
It is evident that the path of Taiwanese subjectivity will continue to advance under the Lai administration, accompanied by policies emphasising democratic ideals, rather than taking a route of pitting Taiwanese nationalism against Chinese nationalism.
![Pan-Asian Civics [July 2018] Diminishing HK Press Freedom, Pink Dot LGBT Celebration](https://i0.wp.com/ketagalanmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/pinkdot_calvinbong_calvinavigator.jpg?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1)
Pan-Asian Civics [July 2018] Diminishing HK Press Freedom, Pink Dot LGBT Celebration
Hong Kong faces diminishing freedoms and attacks on rule of law, Malaysia investigates a corrupt former prime minister, and Singapore celebrates its 10th LGBT festival
![Pan-Asian Civics [June 2018] Tiananmen Remembered, Malaysia to Restart Local Elections](https://i0.wp.com/ketagalanmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018_6_4_victoria_park.jpg?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1)
Pan-Asian Civics [June 2018] Tiananmen Remembered, Malaysia to Restart Local Elections
Hong Kong commemorates June 4 Tiananmen Massacre, Malaysia ponders restarting local elections, Singapore heritage and conservation come up for debate
![Pan-Asian Civics [Monthly Feature]](https://i0.wp.com/ketagalanmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018_6_4_HK.png?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1)
Pan-Asian Civics [Monthly Feature]
The monthly Pan-Asian Civics roundup from Ketagalan Media summarizes key developments concerning public participation, civic engagement, and democracy. Our international team of correspondents report on stories from Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. Stories...
Tiananmen Square and Taiwan’s Human Rights Achievements
While many in Taiwan consider China’s democratic movement irrelevant to them, it is closely connected to Taiwan’s democratic future.
![Pan-Asian Civics [May 2018] Rom-com Censored, Electoral Upset in Malaysia, Cantonese Threatened](https://i0.wp.com/ketagalanmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/annie-spratt-434995-unsplash.jpg?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1)
Pan-Asian Civics [May 2018] Rom-com Censored, Electoral Upset in Malaysia, Cantonese Threatened
The May 2018 Pan-Asian Civics roundup: a teenage rom-com in Singapore is almost banned, Cantonese rights in Hong Kong under threat, and a truly historic election in Malaysia.
![Pan-Asian Civics [April 2018] Hong Kong Democracy, Elections in Malaysia, Protests in Singapore](https://i0.wp.com/ketagalanmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/12650837_10208051530153341_5314278630658699821_n.jpg?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1)
Pan-Asian Civics [April 2018] Hong Kong Democracy, Elections in Malaysia, Protests in Singapore
The Pan-Asian Civics roundup summarizes key developments related to democratic participation in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Li Ao, Infamous Chinese Political Provocateur in Taiwan, Dies
Li Ao, through his provocations and caricatures, moved Taiwan and China in a direction that was perhaps diametric to what he had hoped to see.
Taiwan Faces an Uncertain Future as China Enters a New Era under Xi Jinping’s Indefinite Rule
China’s Communist Party surprised the world on February 25 when it announced the plan to scrap the presidential term limit in PRC’s constitution through a brief bulletin. Speculations about what this sudden move means for China and the world flooded international...
Women’s March Taiwan: Building an Inclusive Community for Women’s Rights
In recent years, Taiwan’s respect for human rights and minorities have been recognized around the world as one of its key advantages to maintain its international competitiveness while keeping the island nation attractive to foreign expatriates and visitors. With the...
New Coalition Pushes for Taiwan Independence Referendum
Taiwan’s newest political movement, the Island of Joy and Happiness Coalition (喜樂島聯盟), launched with great fanfare on Wednesday, announcing its goal of holding a nation-wide referendum on independence. The kickoff event featured numerous luminaries from the Taiwanese...
Earthquake in Hualien Killed 17 and Displaced 750
As of 10 pm Friday, there are 12 deaths, 5 missing, 279 injured, and 751 displaced. Many Hualien local hotels and restaurants provide free food and shelter.
taipeilove*: Document Taiwan’s LGBTQ Advances through Storytelling
The gains made by Taiwan’s marriage equality movement has helped the island nation make international headlines since late 2016, and when the constitutional court ruled in favor of marriage equality on May 24, 2017, the world was celebrating the historic moment with...
Lessons for Taiwanese Entrepreneurs: Be Bold, Adventurous and Different
Ever since the government introduced the “HeadStart Taiwan” project to help establish Taiwan’s startup ecosystem in 2013, Taiwan has witnessed a surge in all kinds of activities related to startups and entrepreneurship. Despite these efforts and an ecosystem that’s...
Queer Taiwan: Facilitate Mutual Understanding through a Queer Lens
Taiwan has witnessed a wave of growing social movement advocating for equalized legal protection for the rights of the LGBTQ community in the last few years. The movement is largely spearheaded by the marriage equality movement, with several LGBTQ rights groups...
Anti Labor Reform Protest: NPP Stages Hunger Strike in front of the Presidential Office for Over 30 Hours
As the legislature plans to kickoff multiparty negotiation over draft amendments to the Labor Standards Act next Monday, 5 legislators from the New Power Party staged a series of unexpected protests on Friday, attempting to disrupt the DPP caucus’s plan to pass the...
Taiwanese Diabetes Management Startup Raises Series B: Health2Sync
With around 60 percent of the world’s diabetes patients living in Asia, there is an urgent need for advanced diabetes management and tracking services. Health2Sync, a startup headquartered in Taiwan, which provides a multifunctional mobile app for patients to track...
Labor Law Amendments Rushed through the Committee while Protesters Blocked Streets Outside the Legislature
A day after protesters from labor rights groups staged a satirical religious style demonstration outside the Executive Yuan, DPP initiated their second attempt to pass the draft amendments to the Labor Standards Act through the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene...
Photo Essay: Protesters Staged Sarcastic Religious Style Demonstration Against Labor Law Amendments
Over one hundred people took part in a satirical, religious style demonstration outside the Executive Yuan to protest against the draft amendments to the Labor Standards Act on Sunday afternoon, one day before DPP plans to stage another attempt to pass the draft...
Giant Bear and a Sustainability Themed Parade: National Day in Taiwan
Instead of tanks and soldiers during the martial law era of the Republic of China rule, the parade this year highlighted key priorities for Taiwan today.
Public Demonstration in Taipei Calls for the Release of Lee Ming-Che
After Taiwanese human rights advocate Lee Ming-Che appeared in a Chinese court for trial, more than 250 people gathered in Taipei calling for the release of Lee.
Undecided, Driverless, Satelites: Taiwan Uniquely
This week on Taiwan Uniquely: first major university to offer undecided majors, driverless buses in Taipei, and a Taiwan-made satellite. Plus, a love note to Taipei’s skyline.
Taiwan’s Constitutional Court Says Yes to Marriage Equality
5 months after the the draft bill on marriage equality passed the first hurdle in Taiwan's legislature, Taiwan's Council of Grand Justices handed down a ruling today, determining that it is unconstitutional to ban same-sex marriage. The decision paves the way for...
Taiwan’s Constitutional Court Weighs in on Marriage Equality
Taiwan’s constitutional court heard arguments on Friday over the landmark marriage equality case, marking a significant step forward for the marriage equality movement in Taiwan. The debate focused on key questions about whether extending marriage rights...
台灣通往婚姻平權之路
這次在台灣，同志婚姻合法化成功的機率似乎比前幾次都還高。但同時擁有傳統價值與新觀念的台灣社會，也藏有其矛盾之處。
Taiwan’s Path To Marriage Equality
Taiwan’s society has also seen a great deal of foreign influence, conflict and change. The timing for women’s rights, gender rights and sexual orientation seems ripe for Taiwan to recognize marriage equality.
臺灣政治人物關切奧蘭多大規模槍擊案
奧蘭多與臺南於 1982 年 6 月 24 日締結為姊妹市，台灣總統蔡英文與台南市長賴清德各自慰問奧蘭多市民以及譴責暴力行為。
Taiwan Leaders React to Orlando Mass Shooting
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and mayor of Orlando’s sister city, Tainan, offers words of encouragement after the deadly shootings in Orlando.
2016 Taiwan Inauguration Live!
KM contributors Kevin Hsu, Gwenyth Wang, William Yang commenting live on the inauguration of Dr. Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwan’s newest president.
「魚蛋革命」是不是香港的未來？
社會的動盪似乎已成為香港人表達不滿和公民覺醒的方式。如果政府繼續以強硬的方式來面對抗議，更多的暴動以及對抗只是時間問題，因為香港人再也不會悶不吭聲。
政策翻轉全面啟動
美國與台灣都將在今年迎接新任總統，為因應亞太地區最新情勢，此時此刻是重新評估並調整政策以促進台美當前外交、經濟利益的最佳時機。
放寬外勞門檻面臨強烈反抗
1月21日，勞動部決定暫緩之前修正的「外國人從事就業服務法第46條第1項至第6款工作資格及審查標準」，停止大幅放寬白領外籍勞工門檻。原先提出的改善原本將會開放更多白領外勞來台灣工作。
The Fishball Revolution: Is This Hong Kong’s Future?
What does the violent clash between police and protesters in Hong Kong’s Mong Kok District known as the Fishball Revolution mean for the future of Hong Kong?
A Time to Realign Policy
Experts speaking at the New Era in US-Taiwan Relations conference discuss the opportunity to realign policy with new administrations in 2016 for both US and Taiwan.
Easing Restrictions for Foreign Labor Met With Resistance
On January 21, the Ministry of Labor temporarily withheld a plan to lower thresholds for foreign talent to legally work in Taiwan. The proposed changes would have allowed for more foreign lower-tiered white collar workers to enter Taiwan’s workforce.
KM 本週回顧第 12 期（10/12/15)
本週我們關注：國民黨是否有可能將總統候選人由洪秀柱改為朱立倫，以及聯合國大會對於跨太平洋戰略經濟夥伴關係協議（TPP）的談判決議。
KM Week in Review Issue 12 (10/8/15)
This week, the focus in Taiwan is on the possible change of KMT presidential candidate from Hung to Chu. In the world, the UN General Assembly wraps up and TPP negotiations conclude.
KM 本週回顧第 11 期（10/5/15)
本週我們關注：選後王金平是否能回立法院？柯文哲對電競比賽的態度為何？另外，中國和希拉蕊的衝突、與美國間諜從中國遣返回國。
KM Week in Review Issue 11 (10/1/15)
Latest from Taiwan includes shutting Wang out of the legislature, and Ko giving e-gaming some official respect. Elsewhere China and Hillary clash, and the US pulls its spies out of China.
KM Week in Review Issue 8 (9/10/15)
Lien Chan’s return from China, Thailand’s Erawan shrine bombing might be linked to China’s oppression in Xinjiang, and India and Australia team up in the South China Sea.
KM Week in Review Issue 7 (9/3/15)
Long weekend reading includes Lien’s visit to China, Hung’s break from campaigning, and an adult film actress on the EasyCard. Elsewhere, journalist Wang Xiaolu is blamed for stock market problems in China.
KM Week in Review Issue 6 (8/27/15)
Latest this week includes official bear market for Taiwan, a second chemical explosion in China, North and South Korea take a step back from confrontation.
KM Week in Review Issue 5 (8/20/15)
Latest from Taiwan includes Ko Wen-je’s visit to Shanghai, and a commando rescue at sea. Elsewhere, search for answers continue after bomb explosion in Thailand, and North Korea and South Korea exchange artillery fire.
KM Week in Review Issue 4 (8/13/15)
The aftermath of typhoon Soudelor, and justice in a case from last year’s Sunflower Movement. Elsewhere, nations continue to strategize as everyone focuses on China’s multiple depreciations of the yuan.
KM Week in Review Issue 3 (8/6/15)
Latest from Taiwan includes conclusion of protests amidst impending natural disaster (hopefully not that bad). Elsewhere, the TPP stalls over disagreement, and the world reflects on Hiroshima during the 70th anniversary of the atomic bomb.
United States Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court announced its landmark ruling to officially legalize same-sex marriage across all 50 states. The decision to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples is a long-waited victory for gay rights activists in the US.
DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen Announces China Stance in the US
DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan-China relations should be based on “accumulated outcomes,” including that in 1992 both sides agreed to disagree in order to move the relationship forward.
Southeast Asian Nations No Consensus Over Rohingya Crisis
The Rohingya, the stateless and widely persecuted minority group in Myanmar and Bangladesh, has the largest number of about 25,000 people who sailed out of Bangladesh and Myanmar since 2014, with hundreds of deaths at sea.