19th UPDATE: Activists Straining Taiwan-Israel Military Relations via Arms Deals
Local Taiwanese Pro-Palestine Groups Cause Confusion and Violence
Excuse the disorganized nature of this article, it is a developing story that I hope to turn into an investigative report in book form via Amazon Kindle. Something I did with Unicorn, a North Korean front company in Taipei a few years back.
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Updated 25 May 2025 (Sunday), 17 March 2024 (Sunday), 26 April 2024; 29 April 2024; 5 May 2024; 21 May 2024; 24 June 2024.
Activists Straining Taiwan-Israel Military Relations via Arms Deals
Local Taiwanese Pro-Palestine Groups Cause Confusion and Violence
By Wendell Minnick (Whiskey Mike) 顏文德
TAIPEI - A note to my readers: In the interest of full transparency, I believe it’s important to share that I am Jewish. I leave it to you to consider how that may inform my perspective.
There are now five (5) different anti-Israel/pro-Palestinian/anti-Semitic groups in Taiwan. Acronyms have become confusing, as you will notice, so I use their full names below::
台灣巴勒斯坦自由連線 Taiwan Alliance for a Free Palestine (TWAFP)
台灣巴勒斯坦行動陣線 Taiwan Action Front for Palestine (TAFP)
台灣巴勒斯坦團結網絡 Taiwan-Palestine Solidarity Network, possibly connected to 可以自由巴 For Peace Taiwan
Filipinos for Palestine
台灣聲援巴勒斯坦群 Palestine Solidarity in Taiwan (PST)
As of mid-May, anti-Israel advertisements have begun appearing on public buses across Taiwan—allegedly sponsored by Amnesty International (AI). The messaging is bold, the branding unmistakable.
Spotted so far: Routes 37, 284, 647, 935, and the Keelung Road Express Line.
The question is why these ads appeared in the present climate.
It’s worth asking why the ads popped up here, of all places—on an island staring down a far more immediate authoritarian threat from across the Taiwan Strait.
On April 13, 2025 (Sunday), another protest was held in Taiwan expressing opposition to Israel and support for Palestine and, implicitly or explicitly, Hamas. One of the protest’s main demands was for Taiwan to end its military exchanges with Israel.
A notable number of the protest organizers are foreign nationals living in Taiwan, many of whom teach English or study Mandarin. Some hold advanced academic degrees—Master’s and PhDs—though many still rely on low-paying English teaching jobs.
According to a report by Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA), three individuals from Taiwan’s Jewish community took part in the protest:
“In their speeches, Jewish scholars from Taiwan—Teri, Derek, and Kerim—criticized the Israeli government. They stated that although the government had the power to limit or end the violence over the past 15 months, it chose not to. They emphasized that many Jews oppose the war and wanted to make this known to the public.”
It’s worth noting that these three Jewish speakers are not English teachers. They are best described as scholars—fitting a familiar intellectual archetype within the Jewish tradition—focused on highly specialized academic fields.
Exempli Gratia:
Teri J. Silvio is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan’s leading academic research institution. Her work explores the intersection of performance traditions and media technologies. For her Ph.D. in Anthropology (University of Chicago, 1998), she conducted fieldwork with actresses and fans of Taiwanese Opera. Her dissertation examined the tradition of cross-gender performance in koa-a-hi, focusing on how performers and their primarily female audiences understood the relationship between onstage and offstage gender roles, and how these perceptions evolved as the opera transitioned from temple festivals to commercial theaters, film, and television.
Derek R. Sheridan is an Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica. His research centers on three key areas: tracing the genealogies of East Asian martial arts in East Africa, exploring how embodied cultural practices are translated across contexts, and analyzing the role of martial arts in Tanzanian film production.
P. Kerim Friedman (傅可恩) is a professor in the Department of Ethnic Relations and Cultures at National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) in Hualien, Taiwan. His research focuses on the revitalization of Indigenous Taiwanese languages, examining how language ideologies intersect with concepts of indigeneity and the broader forces of political economy.
Naomi Goddard, a UK citizen of Jewish heritage currently affiliated with Amnesty International, appears in the center of the screenshot below, standing in front of the green sign. To the left, holding a sign, is Temir Seqau, a Kazakhstani national who was previously involved in a physical altercation with Israeli security personnel assigned to the Ambassador.
It’s widely acknowledged that Taiwan’s new Chien Hsian (Rising Sword) loitering munition is modeled on the Israeli Aerospace Industries’ Harpy system. Just as unsurprising is the established presence of several Israeli defense firms operating in Taiwan, each with local sales representatives. A comprehensive list of these foreign companies and their corresponding Taiwanese agents is available: List of Foreign Companies and Identifies of Taiwan Local Agents.
Below photographs by Wendell Minnick at the 2019 and 2023 Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE).
Click to Enlarge:
In February 2024, the 台灣巴勒斯坦自由連線 Taiwan Alliance for a Free Palestine (TWAFP) demanded Taiwan end all Israeli military relations.
Ironically, the group has made no demands for the Taiwanese government to halt trade with Iran—despite a history of Taiwanese companies exporting dual-use technology to the country. These exports have, in some cases, led to U.S. sanctions against Taiwanese firms for supplying components potentially used in the development of weapons of mass destruction.
According to the group’s Petition:
On February 23, 2024, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Chung Chia-pin initiated the “Taiwan-Israel Congressional Association,” incentivizing deeper bilateral relations and substantive cooperation between Taiwan and Israel. This not only sustains Taiwan's consistent stance of appeasing Israel but potentially functions as an integrating platform for Taiwanese small and medium-sized enterprises, and the Israeli massacre machinery. Currently, Taiwan has a large number of companies, including Enova, Gloria Material Technology (GMTC), S-Tech (STC), Advantech, Complex Micro Interconnection, ADLINK, HIWIN, E-JET Aviation Technology, Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), Chenfull International, Transcom, Ye Fong Aluminium, Thunder Tiger, and others, that are producing weapon components for the United States and Israel. In other words, components and critical technologies “made in Taiwan” have been used in the F-35 fighter jets, F-16 fighter jets, drones, and military computers deployed in attacks on Gaza. Components produced by Taiwanese people are being used in Gaza in weapons that are slaughtering Palestinian civilians, women, and children.
NOTE ABOVE: Hit the far right white pad with lines to download.
The PDF above also mentions the 台灣巴勒斯坦行動陣線 Taiwan Action Front for Palestine (TAFP), which is discussed below, and a new group called 台灣巴勒斯坦團結網絡 Taiwan-Palestine Solidarity Network [possibly connected to 可以自由巴 For Peace Taiwan]. Signees include over 70 Taiwan NGOs/NPOs, along with some quasi-leaderless groups and self-appointed leaders with no members minus a website.
There were only two other Islamic groups on the list: Islamic Association of Taiwan (IAT) 台灣伊斯蘭協會 and Taipei Grand Mosque 台北清真寺.
Of the 70 or so entities that signed the protest letter not all were Islamic: Collective of Sex Workers and Supporters (COSWAS) 日日春關懷互助協會, International Marxist Tendency 火花—台灣革命共產主義 [old school Marxist studies], and Taiwan Japan Research Foundation 台灣日本綜合研究所.
In recent years, Taiwan has made modest but meaningful strides in acquiring military hardware and software, as well as building working relationships with current and former Israeli military and security officials.
Given China’s ongoing success in pressuring other nations to halt arms sales to Taiwan, support from a top-tier defense power like Israel is both rare and strategically valuable.
However, a new wave of pro-Palestinian activism—particularly among DPP-aligned civil society groups—has begun to organize in ways that could complicate Taiwan’s ability to deepen defense ties with Israel. These organizations may unintentionally undermine the military’s access to crucial Israeli technology, training, and intelligence cooperation.
For Taiwan’s defense establishment, tapping into the expertise of Israel’s battle-tested military is essential preparation for countering a potential Chinese invasion.
The stakes are clear: a Chinese takeover would not only eliminate Taiwan’s hard-won democratic gains and civil liberties, but could plunge the island back into authoritarian rule—this time under the grip of the Chinese Communist Party.
Aurora Chang (張瓊方) posted these notices regarding the 台灣巴勒斯坦自由連線 Taiwan Alliance for a Free Palestine (TWAFP):
ABOVE: The foreign national in question is Naomi Goddard, a UK citizen. According to her LinkedIn profile, she serves as a project coordinator for Generation Now Asia (亞洲鬧世代), a human rights organization listed as a signatory to an open letter published by the Taiwan Alliance for a Free Palestine (TWAFP). The letter calls for an end to military cooperation between Taiwan and Israel. [Note: Since the initial publication of this article, Goddard’s name appears to have been removed from the Generation Now Asia website.]
Goddard’s LinkedIn also indicates she is a professional photographer and acts as the community leader and event coordinator for Amnesty International Taiwan’s English-speaking group. In 2014, she graduated with First Class Honours in Photography from the University of the West of England, Bristol. Ironically, one of her past projects includes a photographic series focused on Jewish culinary traditions in Israel.
The role of foreign nationals in Taiwan’s domestic political activism has long been a subject of debate—particularly since the rise of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has drawn support from segments of the expatriate community. In some countries, the kind of activism seen in this case might be viewed as outside interference, often labeled by intelligence professionals as the work of agents provocateurs. Even without formal links to foreign governments or extremist groups, expatriates who champion controversial causes can be seen as introducing destabilizing ideologies into the host society.
In Goddard’s case, critics argue that her opposition to Taiwan-Israel military ties could, whether intentionally or not, undermine Taiwan’s national defense posture. Were she a citizen of either Taiwan or Israel, such actions might be viewed in the legal context of providing comfort to a hostile actor, depending on wartime or national security circumstances.
Goddard has not responded to a request for comment. It is equally plausible that she is not an agitator, but rather an idealist—perhaps a traveler drawn to distant lands in search of meaning or cause. In literary terms, a stranger in a strange land, to borrow from Heinlein—or as one might say in Hebrew, זר בארץ. Whether she is engaged in political advocacy or performing an act of virtue signaling, the consequences of such activism in Taiwan’s unique geopolitical environment remain significant.
Now there is a new list issued sometime in late May on the TWAFP website:
In the list are American and European signees. Take a look at your future Barista coffee workers:
Tatyana Nieves Brown is an African American and Afro-Puerto Rican social researcher, community organizer, and culture worker recently graduated from New York University Abu Dhabi. “Having researched, worked, and traveled in over 30 countries, she explores the crossroads of decolonial movements, global solidarity, policy, and culture. Her work in international museums and political organizations interweaves curation of public, globally-linked spaces for imagining sovereignty with political practices to realize it. She hopes to further connect Puerto Rico’s struggle for sovereignty with similar global plights through policy, design, and culture work toward shared political futures. She is a Truman, Luce, and Rhodes Scholar” (She/They, Ella/Elle). In Taipei, Brown is a Taipei Biennial Assistant, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, July 2023 - Present.
Lon Higginbotham, Founder at Spiritwood Tea Collective; “I started a little web shop called Spiritwood Tea Collective for the benefit of all who walk the path of tea. We are dedicated to spreading pure tea and promoting mindful tea practice.” Nov 2019 - Present. Besides tea, works as an English teacher at the Schoolhouse Language from April 2011 - Present. A long fall from grace for Higginbotham from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics (2002-2007).
Chase W. Nelson (倪誠志) is a “singer and researcher studying bioinformatics, cancer, evolution, viruses. Love coffee, music, books, lifting”. There is no evidence of a weightlifter via his pictures online. His solid bioinformatics on cancer leads one to believe he is a man of science, but then his Antisemitism rears its head via a Youtube video.
Sara Cusack describes herself as an “educator, organizer, advocate” here in Taipei. “I love to make things with my hands, spend time in nature, and sing with friends. I have done many jobs, much more than listed here (ask me!) because I am endlessly curious about how things work, how to make things work better, making connections, and building empathy through lived experience.” She attended the University of Michigan with a BA in Chinese language and literature, cognitive science, September 2013 to May 2017. In the U.S. she worked for as a Law Clerk at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and as a Medical Assistant at Scotsdale Women's Center. At present, she is an International Studies Teacher at the Jhangshu International Creative Technical Middle and High School, September 2022 - Present.
Jonathan D. Levin. Perhaps the only one on the list that appears intelligent with critical thinking skills who attended Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (TU/e) in the Netherlands via a graduate program in Math, Computer Science, Coding Theory and Cryptology. His thesis was PQConnect: An Automated Boring Protocol for Quantum-Secure Tunnels (16 August 2021). He was a visiting scholar at Taiwan’s Academica Sinica from 7 April 2021 to 9 October 2021 (six months). For the most part, his participation in anti-Israel protests have been somewhat anonymous, though local media has quoted him at some rallies, but not on Israel but about infrastructure: “Meanwhile, American software engineer Jonathan Levin, who has lived in Taiwan for two years, said there is room for improvement regarding traffic infrastructure and traffic control. ‘It’s much more dangerous than any other country I’ve lived in.’” In my opinion, Levin’s two years in Taipei leave little room to judge the amazing changes in Taipei’s infrastructure since my arrival in 1993 when pedestrians were basically targets for taxis. There are is virtually nothing about him in English on the Internet. He appears to be a supporter and not a joiner of anti-Israel/pro-Hamas activities. Perhaps a wise move for a future career in a world that might be chaotic, violent, vengeful.
Love is Real, Love Israel Concert did not exactly escape local pro-Palestine/Hamas groups in Taipei on 18 May in Da’an Park on Saturday evening.
The concert was organized by the Christian group, Friends of Israel Alliance (以色列之友聯盟在台灣), in collaboration with the Taiwan Jewish Community (TJC), with roughly 1,500 audience members consisting largely of older Chinese Christians unable to protect themselves, and Jewish community members, many with small children.
A fairly nice evening of music on a lazy Saturday evening, hardly a serious political threat to Palestine.
The police presence was light and appeared to be routine traffic police, but the Israeli delegation, protected by their security unit, seemed the only ones capable of maintaining serious security.
Main groups that appeared later in the evening to protest were the 台灣巴勒斯坦行動陣線 Taiwan Action Front for Palestine (TAFP) and the 可以自由巴 For Peace Taiwan and 台灣巴勒斯坦自由連線 Taiwan Alliance for a Free Palestine (TWAFP).
Some of them were screaming chants such as “End the Genocide” and “Who Killed Jesus?”
There was a capture the flag contest between Aurora Chang (張瓊方) and several members of the TJC. Only one police officer appears in those videos attempting to separate Aurora Chang (張瓊方) and TJC members.
Aurora Chang (張瓊方) screamed several times: “I AM TAIWANESE!”.
Actually, Chang is Singaporean-Taiwanese and spent most of life in Singapore.
Normally, Aurora Chang (張瓊方) and other groups have demonstrated in front the de facto U.S. embassy (American Institute In Taiwan/AIT) and public parks for private events.
This is the first time Aurora Chang (張瓊方) and other groups have directly confronted the Jewish community and took direct action against Israeli government officials in Taiwan.
So the question remains, as you read the rest of this article, is Aurora Chang (張瓊方) the wizard behind the curtain?
Chang and others should consider the very real existential threat from China’s threat to invade Taiwan and execute pro-independence supporters on the island.
But Chang, as you will see further down, is not Taiwanese.
Taiwan News reported on 22 June 2024:
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Friday (June 21) rebuked China for imposing draconian punishments for “Taiwan independence die-hards.”
The Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Friday released an "opinion" on actions “inciting secession” that included punishments such as the death penalty. MAC responded “the Beijing authorities have absolutely no jurisdiction over Taiwan,” and this approach “will only provoke cross-strait confrontation.”
China's Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Security, and Ministry of Justice jointly held a press conference at the TAO to announce the measures, which took immediate effect.
Chang’s relationship with Amnesty International, in fact AI’s support for this group is ironic, as China, by AI’s own numbers, is numero uno.
台灣巴勒斯坦自由連線 Taiwan Alliance for a Free Palestine (TWAFP) had a press conference on 27 May 2024 that included a Kazakhstan student, Temir Saqau, who claims that he was attacked by an Israeli security guard.
According to the Liberty Times Net:
當事人Temir表示，以色列在以哈衝突中並沒有任何和平行動，當時他與朋友晚間7點半去到音樂會現場，準備舉出「以巴立即停火」標語，當時就被投以不友善的眼光，還被人從後面抓住，過肩摔丟往一旁樹叢，要阻止他行使言論自由，並被威脅「我要殺了你，砸爛你的頭！」
台灣巴勒斯坦團結網絡成員張瓊方指出，當天同行的9名高舉「Tears For Palestine」旗幟的和平示威者，也遭參加音樂會的白人男性民眾上前飆罵恐嚇言語、試圖搶奪巴勒斯坦旗，甚至對多名女性發表性騷擾言論，稱「妳應該要被強姦、妳會被強姦」（You should be r-ped, you will be r-ped），她們隨即前往瑞安派出所報案、做筆錄，並進行提告。
Temir, the person concerned, said that Israel did not have any peaceful action in the conflict between Israel and Kazakhstan. At that time, he and his friends went to the concert at 7:30 p.m. to raise the slogan "Israel-Palestini immediate ceasefire". At that time, he was cast an unfriendly eye and was caught from behind and thrown over his shoulder to the bushes to stop him. Exercise freedom of speech and be threatened with "I'm going to kill you and smash your head!"
Chang Chiungfang, a member of Taiwan's Palestinian Solidarity Network, pointed out that nine peaceful demonstrators who held high the "Tears For Palestine" flag on that day were also scolded and intimidated by white men who attended the concert, tried to grab the Palestinian flag, and even threatened to r-pe many of the women. They harassed the remarks, saying, "You should be r-ped, you will be r-ped", and then went to the Ryan police station to report the case, make a record, and make a complaint.
In reality, the audio at the demonstration was different. In response to the screams of “Who Killed Jesus?” and other taunts, Jewish members responded with references to the October massacre by Hamas:
In the video, it appears to me that Temir Saqau got too close to the Israeli delegation while carrying a bag, which prompted a security officer to tackle him to the ground. The delegation included the “ambassador” from the de facto Israeli embassy, the Israel Economic and Cultural Office (ISECO). See VIDEO.
According to New Bloom Magazine, the Kazakhstani pro-Palestine protester was hospitalized after the incident, suffering sprains to his knees and ankle. He has filed a police complaint against the alleged Israeli security official. The group 可以自由巴 For Peace Taiwan states that the protester plans to pursue a lawsuit against the individual responsible for his injuries.
In a phone interview with China In Arms on May 27, 2024, Temir Saqau said he had lunch with Aurora Cheng before the concert, who invited him to attend. He also claimed to be Jewish, but did not speak Hebrew when asked. He said he is an engineering student in Taiwan, finishing his degree.
He intends to sue the Israeli office in Taipei; however, I advised him that diplomatic immunity might apply in this case.
The bigger question for many is whether the DPP supports this group.
Temir appeared at a press conference with Aurora Chang (張瓊方) at the Legislature just hours before his phone interview with China In Arms, directly contradicting his earlier statement that he had no connections to pro-Palestine or pro-Hamas protest groups in Taiwan.
ABOVE: A source has identified the person on the far upper right of the photograph with long hair. As promised my source received a free one-year total access subscription to China In Arms (chinainarms@substack.com).
陳有靈 (CHEN Yo-Ling) is a Taiwanese American who works as an editor for 酷兒翻越 Queer Margins, contributing editor at New Bloom, who studied Anthropology at University of Virginia.
“Trans non-binary writer, translator, activist, journalist, and independent scholar based in Taipei.”
Below picture before identifying as a woman:
Another point of contention is whether the DPP is quietly backing these groups. A journalist, Jewish, Jordyn Haime, familiar with their activities insisted that China In Arms remove any implication of DPP affiliation. However, the photograph above—taken inside a conference room at the Legislative Yuan—and the image below strongly suggest that, at the very least, these groups align themselves with the DPP.
Aurora Chang (張瓊方) is not totally Taiwanese, but has a Singapore passport.
Singapore and Israel maintain a close and extensive military partnership—one that could fairly be described as an intense exchange among “merchants of death.” It’s unclear how Singaporean officials might react to her public calls for Taiwan to sever military ties with Israel, but it would be interesting to see if she’s willing to make similar demands of her own country’s relationship with the Israeli defense industry.
Perhaps she should also protest Singapore’s Star Light Program, which has long involved the stationing and training of Singaporean troops in Taiwan.
According to her own academic background:
She attended Methodist Girls’ School in Singapore (2014–2015).
She then studied at Raffles Institution (2017–2018), earning top marks—AAA in History, Math, and Linguistics—a clear indication of strong academic ability.
She earned a BA in History, Politics, and Economics from University College London (2018–2021), graduating with First Class Honours.
However, her critical thinking seems to falter slightly in her undergraduate dissertation, titled: “Chechnya vs. Xinjiang: A Poststructural Analysis of the Use of Human Rights in EU Foreign Policy Towards Russia and China.” The premise suggests a level of moral equivalence and ideological framing that could benefit from more rigorous scrutiny.
A new group, Filipinos for Palestine, headed by Julia Moriano, gave a presentation to Generation Now Asia, which has been linked to Naomi Goddard (see below).
One area of concern, not openly discussed is Taiwan’s student exchange program with Iran and Palestinian organizations, is the unknown number of students in Taiwan studying engineering subjects necessary for missile and rocket technologies.
We know that Israel targets Iranian students in Malaysia for assassinations, which further deepens anti-Israel views in the region. Fortunately, Iranian students have not met the same fate even without diplomatic protection in Taiwan.
There are also Taiwan trade associations using Qatar and other countries for the export of sensitive technologies to Iran. Some of these Taiwan companies have been sanctioned by the U.S. government.
Another revelation is Taiwan’s relationship with Pyongyang via North Korean trade groups operating here. One of the most famous is the Korea International Chamber of Commerce, which continues flying the North Korean flag outside the door of the office.
It would appear that human rights are for the Taiwan citizenry and do not apply for those who suffer in North Korean gulags.
If I could quote Victor Davis Hanson, the DPP are “not subject to the ramifications of its own ideology.”
Radical members and supporters of the DPP might throw a wrench in military exchanges with Israel that could forestall or even halt an invasion.
That wrench began with the Taiwan Action Front for Palestine (TAFP) that protested outside the U.S. de facto embassy, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
Click to Enlarge:
The TAFP was not mentioned in an earlier 18 November 2023 protest at AIT. See further down on details of March protest.
In comparison to the November 2023 protests, the TAFP appears well organized and consists of numerous Taiwanese-Americans, aged 30 or so, who have a relationship with New Bloom Magazine.
The magazine was started by participants/supporters of the Sunflower Student Movement and claims on its website to provide “Radical perspectives on Taiwan and the Asia Pacific”.
The Sunflower protesters made Trump’s 6 January 2021 demonstration look amateurish.
For 23 days in the Spring of 2014 (March 18 – April 10, 2014) roughly 300-400 students, academics, civic groups, protested and then occupied the Legislative Yuan (Taiwan’s parliament) and Executive Yuan (the executive branch of government) headquarters.
It is the first time in Taiwan’s history the legislature was occupied by protestors.
At the TAFP protest in March there was one unidentified male caucasian.
Most wore surgical masks, except for Lala Lau (劉璧嘉) who translated for the event. She is pictured on various news outlets with ultra short hair speaking into a microphone.
Surgical masks, most likely used in the belief that it obscures identification, are useless in today’s surveillance sophistication via cell phones and facial recognition software.
WARNING: If you are one of the Woke who are American citizens at the AIT protest, you need to know your cell phone gave away your exact location and all communications.
There are three different intelligence organizations interested in your activities.
By participating in this event near a U.S. “embassy” you might end up on a U.S. “watch list” that will track all your international travel, possibly for life.
Israel is probably monitoring these worldwide protests via electronic eavesdropping from satellites and do not be surprised if intelligence sharing agreements between Taiwan and Israel exist.
If there is one organization that protesters should be concerned about is Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) who are probably collecting everything they can find on you due to the decision to stage this stunt via AIT.
You are not in danger. A van will not pull up next to you in a few years with men in black pulling you inside.
But you do not know anything about the other people attending the protest. There is no due diligence on any of them.
You do not know if they are sociopathic and potentially violent. What if there was violence on AIT employees or someone threw a Molotov Cocktail at the facility?
I know you want to be the archetypal hero, and everyone thinks they are the hero in their life story, but do not become a tragic hero or play the fool.
And protesting in the name of a man who poured flammable liquid over his body in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, then lit it, is deplorable.
What happens if someone at the next protest in Taiwan does the same? Radical beliefs lead to radical action, and burning oneself alive is one of them.
A list of demands posted on the TAFP website:
18 November 2023
The below 18 November 2023 protest consisted of a weird collection of misfits: Parallel Government, Left-Wing Alliance, Diaoyutai Education Association, Anti-War Network, and the People’s Democratic Party.
We do know that the Parallel Government is run by a man identified as Wu Yung-ih (吳永毅). Beyond that, it gets murky.
The Diaoyutai Education Association (釣魚台教育協會) is focused on, of all things, the Japanese controlled Senkaku Island that both China and Taiwan claim.
It is unclear which Anti-War Network was at the protest, as there are many of these types of groups in Taiwan.
The Left Wing Alliance is a radical political party best known for political rants by Huang Te-pei (黃德北).
The People’s Democratic Party (人民民主黨) is a small leftist political party with virtually no members and no clear leadership. They support socialism, social justice, humanitarian issues, save the (fill in the blank).
There was one Islamic organization at the protest: Islam Taiwan founded by Abdullah Cheng (鄭平), a second generation Taiwanese Muslim. The Islam Taiwan organization is not radical, with an Islamic center that caterers to the needs of both indigenous Muslims and visiting workers from Southeast Asia. It has championed foreign worker’s rights, particularly those physically abused by their employers.
Overall, an eccentric group.
