Today is International Human Rights Day.

Over 40 years ago, people took to the streets for freedom and human rights, leading to the Formosa Incident—a pivotal turning point for Taiwan's democracy.

However, more than four decades later, President Lai and the DPP government—who should be the primary guardians of the Taiwanese people—are gradually dragging Taiwan back to an era of authoritarianism. While President Lai claims to be deeply grateful to the hundreds of thousands of new immigrants, stating that "regardless of ethnicity or origin, anyone who identifies with Taiwan is a master of this land," the reality is starkly different. Taiwan's new family members and partners are still excluded from true equality in terms of human rights and institutional protection, and even face serious discrimination and infringement.

Manipulating "Resisting China to Protect Taiwan" to Strip Spouses from Mainland China of Identity and Human Rights Many spouses from mainland China came to Taiwan to marry and raise families 20 or 30 years ago. They are the mothers and wives of Taiwanese people; they work hard every day to support their families and our economy, holding Taiwanese ID cards just like us.

However, in recent years, simply because some retired military personnel or businesspeople were involved in espionage cases, these spouses—who were not the perpetrators—are being targeted. They are required to submit a "notarized certificate of loss of original citizenship verified by the SEF," otherwise they face the revocation of their Taiwanese citizenship. Furthermore, the government ignores the Constitution and the legal reality of cross-strait relations, using the Nationality Act to technically strip them of their political participation rights. The DPP’s manipulation of "Resisting China to Protect Taiwan" is, in reality, institutional bullying against a minority group.

Governance Failure: The Collapse of Migrant Workers' Rights and the Surge in Undocumented Labor Migrant workers, who leave their children and hometowns behind to work hard here, are vital pillars of Taiwan's economy. Yet, upon arrival, they face exploitation by brokers, difficulties in changing employers, and wage disparities. Some have no choice but to take the risk of entering the black market.

According to the National Immigration Agency, the number of unaccounted-for (undocumented) migrant workers reached 90,000 in January of this year and climbed to 94,000 by October. Although the government launched the "Long-term Retention of Migrant Workers Program," the power to approve or reject applications lies solely with the employer. This has exacerbated the power imbalance between labor and management. To support their families, migrant workers are often forced to suffer in silence. A policy meant to retain talent has instead become a breeding ground for further exploitation.

The New Immigrants Development Agency: Delayed Again and Again Taiwan is home to 610,000 new immigrants, accounting for 2.5% of the total population. Although the New Immigrants Basic Act was promulgated by the President last August, these new residents have been kept waiting.

Last month, the TPP Caucus in the Legislative Yuan successfully amended the Organization Act of the Ministry of the Interior, passing the third reading to formally establish a central dedicated agency: the New Immigrants Development Agency. The goal is to create a "home that offers both policy support and emotional connection," allowing new immigrants to live with peace of mind and truly become our family, rather than just "people living in Taiwan."

Refusing to Enforce the Fiscal Allocation Act? The Executive Yuan Declares Dictatorship The government’s infringement on people's rights has expanded to the executive branch forcefully blocking legislative power. After the Executive Yuan failed eight times to block the reconsideration of the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (Fiscal Allocation Act), Premier Cho Jung Tai stated that "the Executive Yuan is under no pressure to execute it." This is interpreted by the public as a signal that the Presidential Office and Executive Yuan may choose "not to promulgate and not to countersign" the law.

This is tantamount to declaring to the world that the DPP is so dictatorial that it can choose not to follow the law! When both the President and the Premier lead by example in Selective Law Enforcement—refusing to comply with laws they dislike—how can the people trust that the state will uphold fairness and justice?

Taiwan belongs to the people of Taiwan, not to the DPP alone. Everyone working hard on this land is our compatriot. The government must accept public supervision, ensure institutional transparency, and implement true equality through the rule of law. Let us not allow Taiwan to step back into the dark ages we thought we had already left behind.

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