David on Formosa
LightNews LightNews
banner
davidonformosa.bsky.social
David on Formosa
@davidonformosa.bsky.social
960 followers 480 following 230 posts
Interested in Taiwan, democracy and human rights.
https://davidonformosa.wordpress.com/
Posts Replies Media Videos
davidonformosa.bsky.social
New ASPI report on Australian institutional responses to a Taiwan Strait crisis. Authors include @mhar4.bsky.social and @nathanattrill.bsky.social

www.aspi.org.au/report/austr...
Cover of the ASPI report "Australian public and institutional responses to Taiwan Strait crises" It features people on a beach with two Australian flags
October 31, 2025 at 1:08 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
This one is from Zuoying Fire Station
Cartoon style painting of a firefighter and paramedic on the wall of a fire station in Taiwan
September 21, 2025 at 4:37 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
Global Performance Art Protest Against CCP Oppression in Sydney, Australia. It was one of a series of protests around the world today.
Everything is fine. Global Performance Art Protest Against CCP Oppression in Sydney, Australia. It was one of a series of protests around the world today. Protesters holding a poster with the numbers 8964 to remember the 1989 Tiananmen protests. Poster taped to the pavement. Everything is not fine at all in Hong Kong. That's why we need to take action. Protesters holding the Tibetan flag
June 28, 2025 at 9:13 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
Hong Kongers in Sydney protested against the CCP's transnational repression to mark the 6th anniversary of the 612 protest
Hong Kongers in Sydney protesting at Sydney Town Hall Video message from Ted Hui at the Hong Kongers' protest in Sydney Man with a flag saying free Hong Kong Revolution Now Women holding a flag at Hong Kongers' protest in Sydney
June 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
"Feb. 28 is a day of national mourning, not of fun and entertainment — Taiwanese must not overlook the significance of its commemoration."

www.taipeitimes.com/News/editori...
A green flag with a map of Taiwan in white at the centre. It has 228 Peace Day written on it.
February 27, 2025 at 7:16 PM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
The Lennon Wall in the underpass near SOGO in Taichung is still there. Some parts have been cleaned off or faded since my last visit
Taiwan stand with Hong Kong Taichung stand with Hong Kong Hong Kong protester in yellow helmet Chinese characters meaning resistance
January 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
高雄的亮點 Highlights of Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Kaohsiung Music Centre at night Kaohsiung bear by the Love River Dome of Light in Formosa Boulevard MRT station Kaohsiung Station
January 10, 2025 at 6:20 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
🚴‍♂️ Two day cycling trip from Kaohsiung to Wutai, a Rukai village in the mountains of Pingtung County
David and Giant bicycle Wutai Valley Bridge Shenshan 7-11 Wutai Presbyterian Church
January 8, 2025 at 10:31 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
Island Tinkerers by @honghongtinn.bsky.social tells the story of how Taiwan has become a global leader in high-tech manufacturing. The book is out now

mitpress.mit.edu/978026254938...
Cover of the book Island Tomorrow. It has a map of Taiwan with drawings of people working in computers
January 8, 2025 at 10:28 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
Taipei Pop Music Cultural Center
臺北流行音樂中心文化館

Pop music is the soundtrack of a society. The exhibitions show changing trends in musical style and the supplied audio guide synchronises with the displays to create a feeling of immersion in the world of music.
Live is life display at Taipei Pop Music Cultural Centre Taiwan hip hop display Guitars and other memorabilia on display at the Taipei Pop Music Cultural Centre Display about music festivals in Taiwan
January 3, 2025 at 4:10 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
超越藍綠，就是藍
不談統獨，就是統
中立 => 中國立場

Translation: Transcending the blue and green camps is just being in the blue camp.
Not talking about unification or independence is just supporting unification.
"Neutral" just means taking the Chinese position.

[Source: www.threads.net/@match_cafe/... ]
Translation: Transcending the blue and green camps is just being in the blue camp. Not talking about unification or independence is just supporting unification. "Neutral" just means taking the Chinese position.
December 22, 2024 at 11:07 PM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
Australian artist @badiucao.bsky.social writes about his experience of China's transnational repression. Even though he is an Australian citizen the Chinese government still threatens him in Australia and threatens his family in China

archive.is/nkXgW [The Age]
Black and white painted portrait of artist Badiucao
November 23, 2024 at 2:53 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
The Taiwanese TV series Port of Lies (八尺門的辯護) is now available on the TaiwanPlus website. The series is about migrant workers in Taiwan and the justice system

(It may also be on Netflix in some countries)

www.taiwanplus.com
Promotional image for the Taiwanese Tv series Port of Lies.
October 19, 2024 at 4:41 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
Statement by Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty on the Constitutional Court's decision on the death penalty

www.taedp.org.tw/story/11382
When will Taiwan finally abolish the death penalty? The road ahead will be even more difficult. TAEDP emphasizes, however, that the death penalty continues to be in violation of the international human rights covenants that Taiwan has signed. The Taiwan Constitutional Court Judgement 113-Hsien-Pan-No.8 should not be allowed to be an obstacle preventing the government from fulfilling its commitment to these covenants.
September 20, 2024 at 11:38 PM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
The program for the 2024 ANU Taiwan Update is now available. It is on from the 10th to 11th of September. Topics include social programs for Indigenous people, the #metoo movement and Taiwan's party politics

www.anu.edu.au/events/2024-...
Graphic promoting the 2024 ANU Taiwan Update. Further details available via the link in the post
August 29, 2024 at 6:18 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
New report from the Global Taiwan Institute: Taiwan’s Fight for Global Democracy: The Role of Civil Society

globaltaiwan.org/wp-content/u... [pdf]
Cover of the Global Taiwan Institute's report "Taiwan’s Fight for Global Democracy: The Role of Civil Society"
July 20, 2024 at 12:23 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
Hong Kongers in Sydney marked the 5th anniversary of the anti-ELAB protest with a rally outside Hong Kong House
Flag with the words Free Hong Kong Revolution Now Lennon Wall with messages of support for HK Signs and flags supporting HK Signs protesting against the HK government
June 16, 2024 at 5:57 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
Photos of the event to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre held outside the Chinese consulate in Sydney
Candles spelling out 35 and 6.4 with signs in the background People holding signs for an end to political persecution in China Speeches at the Tiananmen Massacre commemoration event in Sydney Representative of the Tibetan community speaking with a Tibetan flag in the background
June 4, 2024 at 10:44 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
TIANANMEN MASSACRE
1989-2024

Cartoon by Badiucao
Tiananmen Massacre commemoration cartoon by Badiucao
June 3, 2024 at 6:42 PM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
Hong Kong was ranked 135 out of 180 countries and territories in RSF's 2024 press freedom index. It has suffered a precipitous decline since the introduction of the National Security Law in 2020

hongkongfp.com/2024/05/03/j...
Graph showing the decline of press freedom in Hong Kong from 2002 to 2024
May 3, 2024 at 10:50 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
Interview with Xia Ming, a politics professor at The City University of New York, about future possibilities for democracy in China

www.rfa.org/english/news...
RFA: How is democracy relevant to China today? Xia Ming: I think one of the most specific implications for China today is that every Chinese person could potentially play a role in changing their destiny, in determining the future development of the country, and their own basic right to survival. In a democracy, the country belongs to the people, is governed by the people, and enjoyed by the people. China today is totally owned and enjoyed by those in power. The main benefits of China's economic development over the past 40 years have actually been monopolized by bureaucrats or oligarchs.
May 1, 2024 at 12:09 PM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
The results of Taiwan's 2024 elections are in. The DPP's Lai Ching-te will be the next president. No party won the 57 seats required for a majority in the legislature. Voter turnout was 71.8%.
Taiwan 2024 presidential election results. Lai (DPP) 40%, Hou (KMT 33.5%, Ko (TPP) 26.5% Taiwan's 2024 legislative election results. DPP 51 seats, KMT 52 seats, TPP 8 seats, independent 2 seats
January 13, 2024 at 10:05 PM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
The Tibetan Community in Canberra held a walk around the lake for Human Rights Day
Man carrying a Tibetan flags walking around a lake Speeches at the start of a human rights day walk for Tibetans in Canberra Tibetan Community in Canberra at lake Burley Griffin in Canberra Tibetan Community in Canberra at the start of the walk for human rights day
December 10, 2023 at 3:30 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
Two of the three vice presidential candidates in Taiwan's presidential election are women. It is notable that both these women are very cosmopolitan. Hsiao Bi-Khim (蕭美琴) was born in Japan and grew up in Taiwan and the US. Cynthia Wu (吳欣盈) was born in the US and has also spent time living in the UK.
TPP vice presidential candidate Cynthia Wu DPP vice presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim
November 24, 2023 at 9:08 AM
davidonformosa.bsky.social
DPP vice presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim is known as the "cat warrior" (台灣戰貓).

(descriptions in alt text)
Cartoon by Chinese Australian artist Badiucao. It shows a large cat toying with a panda that is cowering in a hole. The warrior cat vs the wolf warrior. This is a reference to China's wolf warrior diplomacy. It asks the question if the Twitter diplomacy of Taiwan's cat warrior is better than China's wolf warriors. Image from Radio Free Asia. Formosan Mountain dog and a cat. The dog represents DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te and the cat represents Hsiao Bi-khim. The warrior cat attacks! Team Taiwan. DPP legislative candidate Wu Pei-yi with Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim.
November 23, 2023 at 1:03 AM