THREAD: The WHO today attacked Taiwan for being racist. Prejudice is not what the current Taiwanese government stands for and I know this because I've been to Taiwan several times (from end of martial law to now) and can say for myself. Pls read on this thread for more. #COVID19

Taiwan, in the first years of transitioning itself into a democratic society in the 1990s from close-minded martial law era, was not an ideal place to be in. I had to take certain precautionary steps to protect myself. / WHO thread

When I visited Taiwan again for the third time in 2005 (then a few times 2010 & more recently) under the then DPP administration, things consistently got better & finally freed up. Society began transitioning into a new age of openness away from colonial-era/racist perceptions.

I take the WHO's racism assertion of the current Taiwan government (under Pres. Tsai Ing-wen) to be extremely offensive bc it's not what she stands for. It's clearly not what her party stands for. They stand for transitional justice (look that up), LGBTQ, indigenous & minorities.

If you listen to Tsai Ing-wen's lectures early on in the academia as I have, you will find that she's very liberal-minded and has a very open vision for humanity. It is simply the openness that made me truly appreciate her on a professional and personal level. / WHO / Taiwan

Anyone (ie WHO) who wants to call out Taiwan for being racist (w/o proof as I've followed #COVID19 news all along) simply does not fully grasp Taiwan's internal politics and history. If you want to bring prejudice into convo right now, I've felt it more in people from China.

Someone really needs to write an article about the WHO's flat-out lie in calling Taiwan racist. It's a very offensive assertion to me, because I've been studying and following Taiwanese politics (and have been there). This assertion by the WHO is so wrong, frustrating. #COVID19

The main opposition party in Taiwan (whose predecessors administered martial law for decades, and whom WHO supported) has overtly criticized Pres. Tsai Ing-wen for being single & motherless. For being too indulgent and lack of understanding mothers. Isn't that prejudice? #COVID19

In the final decade of martial law in Taiwan, the democratically elected party of the current Taiwanese government) was formed with a mission to bring down patriarchy and racism in Taiwan, between the so-called benshengren (natives) and waishengren (Chinese immigrants). WHO

Throughout the colonial era martial law, waishengren had a higher social and political standing in all of Taiwan society (like South Africa's patriarchy) For decades, a majority of cabinet officials were waishengren despite waishengren repping only 15% of TW population. / WHO

There's no doubt some people in Taiwan who may be prejudicial and racist, but such is the case for any country worldwide. This is why we look at the decision-making people (like gov't) and count on them to push our societies forward, why I wrote this thread about TW gov't. / WHO