In July we took the show on the road bringing Talking Taiwan to the 53rd annual Taiwanese American Conference, East Coast that was held at West Chester University. I sat down and spoke with New Taipei City Councilor Chen Nai-Yu (陳乃瑜市議員). We spoke about how she went from being a journalist to a politician, working on Lai Ching-te’s presidential campaign, and the controversial bills that got passed in Taiwan’s legislature in May and that led to massive protests and the Bluebird Movement.
Special thanks to Bill Wu who sat in on the interview to provide translation assistance to City Councilor Chen, and to Anmy Lee for additional research and translation assistance.
This episode is sponsored in part by the Taiwanese American Council of Greater New York.
Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:
- How Naiyu went from working as a journalist for 14 years to becoming a politician
- Issues she’s focused on as a City Councilor
- Anti-Han Kuo-yu rally in Kaohsiung
- Naiyu’s work as a journalist
- How her experience as a journalist prepared her to be a politician
- The challenges she faced in working on Lai Ching-te’s presidential campaign
- Cases of state-owned land on which people built personal mansions
- The different communication styles and approaches to social media use of Lai Ching-te and Ko Wen-je
- What Naiyu has to say about President Lai Ching-te’s personality and character
- What could happen with the controversial bills that led to the Bluebird movement protests in Taiwan in May
- Cases of ill-gotten assets and how the handling of ill-gotten assets could be reversed
- Naiyu’s observations of the Bluebird movement
- The most rewarding thing about being a City Councilor
Related Links:
City Councilor Chen Naiyu (陳乃瑜市議員) Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/newsevalynchen/
New Taipei City: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Taipei_City
Taiwan’s ‘living hell’ traffic is a tourism problem, say critics: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/taiwan-traffic-war-tourism-intl-hnk/index.html
Han Kuo-yu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Kuo-yu
Tens of thousands take to streets in Taiwan to protest for and against presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3043074/kaohsiung-braced-rival-political-rallies-and-against-taiwan
The Rise and Rapid Fall of Han Kuo-yu (an article from The Diplomat): https://thediplomat.com/2020/03/the-rise-and-rapid-fall-of-han-kuo-yu/
Han Kuo-yu Recall: More Than Just About China: https://globaltaiwan.org/2020/06/han-kuo-yu-recall-more-than-just-about-china/
President Lai Ching-te: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lai_Ching-te
https://english.president.gov.tw/Page/644
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Progressive_Party
Kuomintang (KMT): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuomintang
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsiao_Bi-khi
https://english.president.gov.tw/Page/649
Penghu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penghu
Taichung: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taichung
Changhua: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changhua_County
Former President Tsai Ing-wen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsai_Ing-wen
SET TV: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SET_Taiwan
Sanlih: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanlih_E-Television
Legislative Yuan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_Yuan
Executive Yuan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Yuan
Ko Wen-je: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko_Wen-je
Golden Bell Awards: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Bell_Awards
Chen Nai-Yu’s Facebook post about being nominated for the Golden Bell Awards in 2019: https://www.facebook.com/newsevalynchen/posts/2401441076602516/?_rdr
Tseng Po-yu (曾柏瑜): https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/04/18/2003588317
DPP Announces Wave of Nominations, With an Emphasis on Former Sunflower Movement Activists: https://newbloommag.net/2023/06/01/dpp-sunflower-nomination/
Yen Kuan-heng(顏寬恆)
KMT lawmaker Yen sentenced by Taichung court: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2024/07/27/2003821377
Gangster Political Dynasties, Vote Buying, and…Cabbages: https://international.thenewslens.com/article/161324
Liao Hsien Hsiang (廖先翔)
Statements about Lai property misleading: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2023/11/22/2003809520
Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁)
Hualien chief Fu Kun-chi charged with tax evasion: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/10/07/2003679880
Hsieh Yi-fong (谢衣鳯)
SD TV fined for Hsieh holdings: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/07/09/2003739634
Ma Wen-chun (馬文君): https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4511660
Wu Tsung-hsien (吳宗憲)
Hundreds protest at Legislature ahead of likely passage of reform bills: https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202405280008
2016 southern Taiwan earthquake: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Taiwan’s Legislative process: https://www.ly.gov.tw/EngPages/Detail.aspx?nodeid=335&pid=43232
Taiwan’s ‘Bluebird Movement’ born from controversial measures: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5878867
Legislature approves law on ill-gotten party assets: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/07/26/2003651800
Assets committee launches KMT real-estate database: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/06/08/2003716557
The KMT proposes changes to bill on ill-gotten assets: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/06/03/2003818795
KMT advances proposal to ease assets restrictions: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/06/15/2003819378
KMT Aims to Roll Back Party Assets Legislation on China Youth Corps: https://newbloommag.net/2024/06/15/china-youth-corps/
Court rejects China Youth Corps KMT petition: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/08/03/2003821710
Taipei court upholds decision to freeze China Youth Corps’ assets: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5912902
Court rejects China Youth Corps KMT petition: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/08/03/2003821710
Taiwan court rules parts of parliament reforms unconstitutional in setback to opposition: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-court-rules-parts-parliament-reforms-unconstitutional-setback-opposition-2024-10-25/
Court rules against most legislative power reforms: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2024/10/26/2003825881
Taiwan legalizes same-sex marriage in historic first for Asia: https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/17/asia/taiwan-same-sex-marriage-intl/index.html
Behind Taiwan’s Same-Sex Marriage Law, The 30-Year Crusade: https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=2410
1991 Soviet coup attempt: https://www.britannica.com/topic/1991-Soviet-coup-attempt
Hsin-Tai Wu: From Cardiovascular Surgeon to Joining the Taiwan State Building Party Ep 264
Hsin-Tai Wu: From Cardiovascular Surgeon to Joining the Taiwan State Building Party Ep 264: https://talkingtaiwan.com/hsin-tai-wu-from-cardiovascular-surgeon-to-joining-the-taiwan-state-building-party-ep-264/
Bluebird Movement: 3 Experts Discuss the Controversial Bills Leading to Protests at the Legislative Yuan Ep 286: https://talkingtaiwan.com/bluebird-movement-3-experts-discuss-the-controversial-bills-leading-to-protests-at-the-legislative-yuan-ep-286/
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Recently Debated Human Rights Issues in Taiwan: A Conversation with Michael Fahey Ep 294: https://talkingtaiwan.com/recently-debated-human-rights-issues-in-taiwan-a-conversation-with-michael-fahey-ep-294/