Taiwan
-
What is Ghost Month and the Hungry Ghost Festival?
Do you believe in ghosts? That’s always been the divisive question separating the non-believers from the sixth-sensers; the logical from the “open-minded”. In Taiwan, however, this question has a much more definitive answer. The sincere belief in ghosts and the spiritual world is so deeply rooted in Taiwanese culture that as many as 70-90% of Taiwanese citizens acknowledge at least acknowledge its cultural significance. Even those who might not consider themselves true “believers” still observe many customs and superstitions surrounding the idea. Though you may be picturing ghouls and goblins coming to haunt your dreams, it’s not quite as morbid as you might think. In fact, there’s an entire month…
-
You Could Be Sued For Trolling in Taiwan!
Freedom of speech is a beautiful thing. From ranting about clueless politicians and their laughable policies to bad-mouthing that arrogant waiter and his lacklustre service, we Westerners have gotten very used to the idea of speaking our minds for better or for worse. However, in Taiwan, freedom of speech isn’t so free after all. Despite being one of the few true democracies in Asia, speaking your mind can have severe financial consequences, and you might even find yourself in prison for it! Whether it’s simply stating facts or childish name-calling, defamation and public humiliation are considered criminal offences in Taiwan! So, before you drop an unfavourable comment on this article,…
-
The Milk Tea Alliance: An Online War of Democracy
A few things are capable of bringing nations together. It may be a common heritage or sharing cultural similarities, yet history has shown that nothing brings two countries together more than a hatred of a common enemy. For Asian countries, this dreaded bogeyman has always been the same, China, and more importantly, the lack of democracy that they inspire. In the past year, countries across South-East Asia have joined hands as a sign of solidarity in the face of adversity from both home and abroad. This unique union is symbolically represented by a common love that these nations share, milk tea. Who knew a nice cup of Yorkshire could be…
-
The Battle of the Pork: The Uproar in Taiwan
There are many ways tensions can be raised in countries. Political friction, presidential elections and government decisions over health concerns are just some of the things we’re experiencing right now in the West. Taiwan on the other hand has recently had one of the strangest causes of unrest between its citizens and has even ended in physical confrontations between opposition lawmakers. This violent outburst in Taiwan was caused by nothing more than sweet juicy American pork. How could the spectrum of pork products cause such an uproar in Taiwan? There are so many rabbit-holes to this story that need to be dissected one step at a time. To really understand…
-
COVID in Taiwan: The Secret of Success
Currently, the majority of the world is experiencing a small-scale apocalypse. The entire globe has come to a complete standstill as it suffers through the worst global pandemic in centuries. I wouldn’t know anything about that, as I’m currently living in Taiwan, a country that has almost completely avoided any negative impact from COVID-19 and remains one of the safest countries in the world in a time of such carnage. If it weren’t for regular calls home and browsing online articles, I would have no idea that the rest of the world was in total lockdown. So, what is Taiwan’s secret? How has Taiwan managed to remain so unaffected during…
-
China vs. Taiwan: What’s the Difference?
Dawn over the Taiwan Strait brings to light the geographical divide between the communist powerhouse and its more progressive, rebellious step-brother. But this is more than just distance – it’s divergence, an evolutionary boundary that has produced fascinating results. In the red corner: a one-party superpower shaping geopolitics, driving development, and manufacturing the world’s goods. In the blue corner: a scrappy island where democracy has flourished into a noisy, televised, memed society – fiercely defended by its people. Same civil war scar. Same cultural ancestry stretching back thousands of years. But somewhere between revolution and retreat, red flags and ballot boxes, the lines split hard. Different governments.Different economies.Different passports.Different militaries.Different…
