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Min Chao

@wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social

1.1K followers 760 following 990 posts

independent #Taiwan writer and rights advocate • https://wordsfromtaiwan.medium.com • https://linktr.ee/wordsfromtaiwan • #TaiwanResources #TaiwanArchives

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · Jun 9

The lack of #UN representation for #Taiwan is why drop-down menus often default erroneously to "Taiwan, Province of 🇨🇳" — the International Organization for Standardization cites the "Standard Country or Area Codes for Statistical Use" maintained by the UN. wordsfromtaiwan.medium.com/stop-abusing...

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 9h

However, it was an open-letter post by ex-mayor Hau that was the true jaw-dropper. It contained a series of remarkable accusations that he was the victim of #cyberwarfare — aka "foreign Internet armies (境外網軍)" — mysteriously funded by over NT$100 million (US$3.3 million).

bsky.app/profile/dono...

Courtney Donovan Smith 石東文 @donovan-smith.bsky.social · 9h

Jaw's presser on Sat turned Hau's post from a vague conspiracy to a major discussion topic, which I've already submitted a column on.

www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...

Donovan’s Deep Dives: Fears of being ‘dumped’ and foreign conspiracies in the KMT chair race homestretch - Taipei Times

Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan

www.taipeitimes.com

Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 9h

"This is not the only time that allegations of undue conduct have emerged in high-level KMT internal elections. Current KMT legislative caucus leader Fu Kun-chi & his wife, Hualien county magistrate Hsu Chen-wei, were previously accused" of vote buying in the KMT central standing committee election.

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 9h

"Jaw's #allegations are directed against dark horse candidate Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文). A former legislator and National Assembly member, Cheng unexpectedly proved to be the number one candidate in online polling. For some, this raised suspicions that Cheng is backed by #China."

bsky.app/profile/newb...

New Bloom @newbloommag.net · 1d

"Chinese Interference Allegations Break Out in KMT Chair Race" by @brianhioe.bsky.social

Chinese Interference Allegations Break Out in KMT Chair Race | New Bloom Magazine

Unusual allegations have broken out in the KMT chair race. Specifically, deep blue political commentator Jaw Shaw-kong has alleged Chinese interference in the race, taking place through online…

newbloommag.net

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 10h

The CCP's political interference in #Taiwan is a collective threat. Recently, senior KMT figure Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康) admitted that the KMT chairperson election has been inundated by an "overwhelming wave of Chinese intervention” targeting one of the candidates, former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌).

Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 10h

The KMT + TPP have blocked national security bills (proposed by the DPP since the current legislative term began last Feb) 632 times.

Such blocked bills entail: stopping high-ranking officials from attending CCP events; banning fake news/polls influencing elections or a political party's primaries.

Pierre-Yves Baubry 博磊 @pybaubry.bsky.social · 19h

“This week, KMT chairperson candidates and their supporters suddenly realized that online disinformation is real, and foreign interference in Taiwanese elections is real. Now that they recognize how much such actions harm Taiwan (...), they should support proposals to amend national security laws.”

DPP tells KMT to back national security bills - Taipei Times

Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan

www.taipeitimes.com

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Reposted by Min Chao

Andrew Kerslake @erimjh.bsky.social · 1d

There are still several groups that are working at cultural resurgence and reintegration. Several groups of Siraya, Makatao as well as groups of Pazeh, Popora and Taokas are seeking official recognition.

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 1d

Gochi, a twenty-year old Pepohoan woman wearing a #headscarf, photographed in #Taiwan circa 1871

Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 1d

A Pepohoan mother, with her child in a sling, and a thirty-six year old Pepohoan man, circa 1871.

Both photos were taken at Baksa, "a village about thirty miles inland from the capital, #Taiwanfu [Tainan 臺南市]."

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 1d

"Pepohoan" refers to the Plains #Indigenous peoples of the #Taiwanese lowlands, also known as Pingpu people (平埔族), now assimilated.

A thirty-year old Pepohoan woman, pictured from the front and side, circa 1871.

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 1d

#Indigenous man with pipe and community members pictured in central #Taiwan (1870-1900)

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 1d

A long dug-out #canoe on Lake Candidius (today's Sun-Moon Lake), #Taiwan (1875)

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 2d

Possible photograph of Keelung #Coal Harbor (today's Badouzi District 八斗子), #Taiwan (1870-1890)

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 2d

Image Point (點陣角) at the mouth of #Keelung Harbour, northeastern #Taiwan (1870-1890)

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 2d

A man beside a huge #Banyan tree with exposed roots, #Taiwan (1871)

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 3d

#TaiwanWordoftheDay is #鏟子超人 — "superheroes with shovels" aka a record 400k volunteers from across Taiwan who brought their own shovels to clean a town devastated by a catastrophic barrier lake flood in #Hualien. They were honored in the president's speech and #Taipei101 fireworks on 🇹🇼 national day.

https://english.president.gov.tw/News/7022

https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/5207366

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 4d

Formosa Petrochemical responds:

"Due to global market conditions, most bidding suppliers have delivered 🇷🇺 #naphtha.

This is purely the result of market circumstances, not a deliberate shift in procurement strategy.

Should the 🇹🇼 government issue a ban in the future, the Company will fully comply."

https://www.fpcc.com.tw/en/news/articles/2/89

Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 4d

"Under the nation's policy back then, the [Chinese Nationalist] authorities concerned not only could deprive a person of his or her life, they could even strip the bodies that remained, exploiting their remaining values to the bones. [...] Even after their deaths, they were dissected involuntarily."

Before the National Defense Medical Center relocated to Taiwan, there was only one school of medicine in Taiwan, which was affiliated with Taiwan Government-in-General (台湾総督府). At present, it operates as the NTU Medical School. Pictured here is its dormitory. （Source: Wikimedia）

Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 4d

"'I Won the Prize, Teacher' by the #novelist Huang Chunming (黃春明) is an essay dedicated to a #teacher who inspired his interest in #literature, Wang Hsien-chun (王賢春). [...] One day, Wang was taken away from class. Shortly afterward, a high school senior said that he saw Wang in an #autopsy room."

https://www.upmedia.mg/tw/commentary/culture-and-education/169969

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 4d

What happened under martial law?⤵️

"Prevalent political #persecution made mortuaries filled with the #executed political prisoners… There were so many of them that the guardian had to use a hook to turn the bodies [in formalin pools] around for identification."

www.taiwangazette.org/news/2021/4/...

Ghastly Heritage of NTU’s Shuiyuan Campus: White Terror Stories in Autopsy Room — The Taiwan Gazette

Between 1949 and 1999, the National Defense Medical Center was located around what is now the Shuiyuan Campus of National Taiwan University. Ghastly rumors about the site circulated among present-day ...

www.taiwangazette.org

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 4d

"One month ago, Sept 10, was the historic date when the number of days 🇹🇼 had spent #free from martial law officially surpassed the number of days endured under its stifling rule."

#Democracy, forged through untold hardships, is what clearly positions the 23 million people of #Taiwan in this world.

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 4d

#Kaohsiung Pride on Nov 29:

"Next year, Taiwan will hold another round of local elections. As voters, we must unite to support candidates who prioritize gender #equality and make LGBTQ+ rights a winning issue. No matter where we live, we need leaders who will stand for inclusivity." www.khpride.org

Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 5d

🏳️‍⚧️ 2025 #Taiwan Trans March — Break Prejudice, Shine Diversity on Oct 24:

"As the world moves backward, we must move forward together.

Join us. Sometimes even the smallest candle can help someone lost in the dark. A caring message. A kind gesture. Standing quietly beside someone who feels alone."

https://hotline.org.tw/civicrm/event/info?id=845&reset=1

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 5d

#TaipeiPride🌈 celebrates its 23rd year on Oct 25: "Only by crossing the barriers built from prejudice and fear, and by appreciating each unique life experience, can we weave a more resilient society, making #Taiwan ever more diverse, equal, and truly respectful." www.taiwanpride.lgbt/2025-theme-s...

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Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 6d

Before her secret #identity was exposed, Eve Hsieh was given top marks for job performance at CNA for producing more #articles than her peers. In response to Huang Kuo-chang's claims that "Hsieh's resignation is CNA's loss," the CNA chair says "Hsieh is responsible for CNA's loss [of #credibility]."

https://www.mirrormedia.mg/story/20251008edi029

Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwan.bsky.social · 7d

FS-8A — the first component of FORMOSAT-8, a #satellite formation comprising 8 units — departs for the US. Nicknamed Chi Bo-lin satellite (齊柏林衛星) after the late environmentalist, the observation unit built with 84% #Taiwan-made parts will be launched on SpaceX's Transporter 15 #rideshare mission.

https://www.tasa.org.tw/zh-TW/announcements/detail/247c09c0-3412-4bb7-9587-c1e93877bbae

https://www.tasa.org.tw/zh-TW/announcements/detail/4d4244b4-38c7-484c-abf1-36125174f2b0

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