https://www.scmp.com/rss/324401/feed Hilton Yip is a journalist and editor based in Taiwan. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Hilton Yip Hilton Yip When I was growing up in the Caribbean, I knew three things about my identity: I am ethnic Chinese, I was born in Hong Kong and I have Hakka heritage. Who are the Hakkas, some of you might be wondering. They are a Han Chinese subgroup originally from China’s central plains, who migrated further and further south – to Jiangxi province, then Guangdong and Fujian – centuries ago, during turbulent periods in Chinese history. They also moved to provinces including Hunan and Guangxi, and as far west... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350156/growing-hakka-around-language-few-dared-speak-publicly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350156/growing-hakka-around-language-few-dared-speak-publicly?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 While South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol has attracted notoriety for his stunning failed bid to impose martial law, there is another democracy in the region where the ruling party has been behaving with audacity. On December 20, Taiwan’s legislature became the scene of intense clashes between the ruling and opposition legislators, involving wrestling, kicking and the throwing of water. Legislators from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had broken into the building... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3292539/taiwans-latest-legislative-punch-ups-suggest-democracy-retreat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3292539/taiwans-latest-legislative-punch-ups-suggest-democracy-retreat?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:30:08 +0000 Taiwan’s government under President Tsai Ing-wen has entered its final month before president-elect William Lai Ching-te takes over on May 20. It has already faced a series of controversies and crises this year, the most serious of which involved mainland Chinese coastguard ships surrounding Quemoy, after two Chinese fishermen died in a collision with a Taiwanese coastguard vessel. As a result, Lai could find his hands full as soon as he assumes office, especially if the situation around Quemoy... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3258656/taiwans-incoming-government-faces-tough-task-win-back-public?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3258656/taiwans-incoming-government-faces-tough-task-win-back-public?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Apr 2024 01:15:17 +0000 With less than two months to go before Taiwan’s presidential election, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is facing problems. While Taiwanese Vice-President and DPP presidential candidate William Lai Ching-te remains the front runner, a recent poll shows his lead is slipping. This might come as a surprise to some, but the fact is that the DPP has done a mediocre job in many vital areas, even as the island’s situation becomes more precarious. With Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3242985/taiwan-election-2024-why-dpp-facing-uphill-battle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3242985/taiwan-election-2024-why-dpp-facing-uphill-battle?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Nov 2023 21:30:19 +0000 In recent weeks, Taiwan has been rocked by a wave of sexual harassment allegations against political, cultural and entertainment figures, in its own #MeToo moment. As surprising as this might seem, given the island’s image as a progressive human rights haven, the allegations might actually be more reflective of the reality in Taiwan. In late May – inspired by a Taiwanese Netflix political drama, Wave Makers, which featured a scene involving two female characters discussing sexual harassment at... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3225850/taiwans-metoo-scandals-are-tip-iceberg-human-rights-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3225850/taiwans-metoo-scandals-are-tip-iceberg-human-rights-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jun 2023 08:30:13 +0000 Taiwan’s authorities recently revealed that 58 people had been rescued after being held and kept in shackles, following a police investigation into an extortion ring, with another three people having died. This was an apt reflection of developments on the island, where a spate of crimes has gone under the radar. These include the killing of two police officers after pursuing a suspect in August, the murder of a Malaysian student last month, a mass shooting in an office building that killed four... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3199061/beacon-freedom-taiwan-needs-tackle-its-serious-crime-and-livelihood-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3199061/beacon-freedom-taiwan-needs-tackle-its-serious-crime-and-livelihood-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Nov 2022 00:45:08 +0000 Everything Belongs to Us by Yoojin Grace Wuertz Random House 3/5 stars South Korea was not always the prosperous, democratic country it is now. Just a few decades ago, back in the late 1970s, it was relatively poor and ruled by a harsh authoritarian regime desperate to catch up with the West while cracking down on any form of public dissent. This is the turbulent backdrop against which Everything Belongs to Us by Yoojin Grace Wuertz takes place. Namin, Jisun and Sunam are students at the... https://www.scmp.com/culture/books/article/2093387/book-review-everything-belongs-us-story-elite-university-students-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/books/article/2093387/book-review-everything-belongs-us-story-elite-university-students-post?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 May 2017 05:15:15 +0000