In the spring of 2024, Taiwan experienced nationwide demonstrations that have come to be known as the Bluebird Movement. These Taiwan protests are the latest in a long tradition of youth-led political activism that has, over decades, spearheaded the island’s journey toward a more democratic society.

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The youth-led Bluebird Movement echoes earlier movements such as the Wild Lily protests of the 1990s and the 2014 Sunflower Movement. 

This latest chapter in Taiwan’s political history is driven by two factors:

• A set of controversial amendments passed by a coalition of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The amendments are seen by the protesters as threatening Taiwan’s hard-won democratic checks and balances through a blatant power grab by the nation’s legislature, the Legislative Yuan. 
  
• Concerns over continuing intimidation tactics from China. The demonstrations reflect the crucial role of Taiwan’s youth in standing at the forefront of the island nation’s defense of its independence from China.

In May of 2024, in solidarity with similar demonstrations around the nation, 100,000 protestors demonstrated in Taipei against the new statutes.

Although the core of the movement sprung up as opposition to the controversial amendments, its scope has expanded to include a broader defense of democratic reforms in Taiwan that have been forged over the last three decades. 

The movement has attracted international attention and protests have extended beyond Taiwan, including a June protest in New York City’s Times Square.

The Bluebird Movement has seen strong participation from younger Taiwanese, including high school students. The use of technology for mobilizing support, disseminating information, and international broadcasting is a pronounced part of the movement.

The amendments that sparked the Taiwan protests

The aforementioned amendments modify specific laws related to the powers of the Legislative Yuan. According to The Diplomat, they empower Taiwan’s legislature to summon any citizen, including private individuals and company officials, for questioning. 

These individuals would not be able to invoke the right to remain silent, and could only have legal representation if permitted by the chairman of the Legislative Yuan. This generated fears of citizens being forced into investigations without adequate legal protections​.

The amendments granted Yuan legislators the authority to demand classified government documents and confidential business information, even during ongoing judicial cases. Critics, including protestors, warned that this could lead to political interference in judicial processes and corporate affairs.

The amendments would also enable legislators to investigate ongoing judicial cases. Protestors argued that this could open the door for politicians to influence court rulings. 

The legislative process that approved the amendments also was called out for its haste and lack of transparency. Critics accused the KMT/TPP coalition of pushing through the amendments without proper discussion or sufficient public scrutiny. 

Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators and civil society members claimed that many lawmakers were given last-minute versions of the amendments, with little or no opportunity to review them before voting.​

The January 2024 election that presaged the new amendments

The stage for the passage of the new amendments and the subsequent Taiwan protests was set during the January 2024 national elections. The key results of those elections and their implications were: 

• Presidential Election: Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the presidency, succeeding term-limited President Tsai-Ing-wen. However, despite Lai’s victory, the KMT and TPP won enough legislative seats to form a majority in the Legislative Yuan.
  
• Legislative Yuan: The KMT/TPP alliance dominated the legislative elections, securing the majority needed to control the legislative process and push their agenda forward. This majority created a divided government, with the executive branch led by the DPP and the legislature controlled by the opposition parties​.

To make matters more tense, the Yuan seats won by each party showed a razor-thin margin for the KMT over the DPP: KMT (Kuomintang) – 52 seats; DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) – 51 seats; TPP (Taiwan People’s Party) – 8 seats. 

Have the Taiwan Bluebird protests been effective?

The jury is still out on whether or not the demonstrations against the new legal amendments will ultimately prevail. The first round in that battle went to the KMT/TPP coalition, as despite the Bluebird protests, the bills were passed by the Legislative Yuan. 

However, the executive branch of Taiwan’s government, known as the Executive Yuan, along with other governmental bodies, filed for a constitutional review of the legislative changes.

 

In response to the passage of the amendments, Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai of the DPP declared his Cabinet’s¹ commitment to safeguarding Taiwan’s Constitution. 

He also asserted, according to the Taiwan News, that a number of the amendments’ provisions infringe on individuals’ rights and violate the separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of Taiwan’s government.

As noted, the Bluebird Movement is not merely a protest against legislative changes but also a fight against what is seen as increasing legislative overreach and democratic backsliding in the face of ongoing provocations from the Chinese government. 

This is particularly poignant given Taiwan’s political situation vis-à-vis China. Imagine living next door to an unpredictable gorilla—for 75 years. That has been Taiwan’s fate since the late 1940s when Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist forces retreated to Taiwan after being defeated by Mao Zedong’s Red Army in the Chinese Civil War.

What is the history of Taiwan’s youth-led protests?

Today’s Bluebird Movement is the latest in a century-long tradition of youth-led movements in Taiwan. Knowing this history helps us understand what animates these political and cultural forces. 

Simply put, the engine that drives these movements, no matter the varying outer events that surround them, has always been a yearning for greater freedom on the part of the Taiwanese people in general and the youth in particular.

With that in mind, let’s revisit the important history of youth-led political activism in Taiwan. 

The 1922 Taiwan Cultural Association movement

The 1922 youth-led protests in Taiwan, also known as the Taiwan Cultural Association movement (TCA), were a significant part of the broader Taiwanese cultural and political awakening during Japanese colonial rule. That rule spanned a half-century from 1895 until the end of World War II. 

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During that period, Japan governed Taiwan as a colony. Taiwanese intellectuals and youth, many of whom had been educated in Japan, began to organize in response to the perceived injustices of colonial policies. The movement was characterized by efforts to promote Taiwanese self-awareness, cultural identity, and political participation. 

One of the central figures of the movement was Chiang Wei-shui, who founded the TCA in 1921. The TCA played a key role in encouraging Taiwanese youth and intellectuals to seek greater autonomy and resist the assimilation policies of the Japanese colonial government.

Though not protests in the conventional sense of street demonstrations, the actions taken by these youth-led efforts were a form of social activism. TCA followers organized cultural events, published literature, and demanded greater political rights, freedom of speech, and equality for Taiwanese people under Japanese rule.

The activities of the TCA and the youth-led movement helped lay the foundation for later political movements in Taiwan, in particular the push for democratic reforms and self-determination that emerged late in the 20th century.

Taiwan’s transition from Japanese occupation to Kuomintang rule

Shortly after World War II, Taiwan traded its Japanese colonial overlord of 50 years for a martial law dictatorship under the Kuomintang that lasted another 40 years. However, this statement oversimplifies a complex political and cultural dynamic that played out as part of the transition.

Japanese colonial rule had a lasting impact on Taiwanese society, as would be expected of any 50-year colonial reign of one nation over another. While the Japanese regime was authoritarian, its reforms exposed Taiwan to more advanced governance and social structures. 

This legacy contributed to a unique Taiwanese identity, with many viewing themselves as more developed compared to China during that era. In the eyes of the Taiwanese, their more advanced society was in stark contrast to China’s political instability, backwardness, and poorer quality of life. 

After the Kuomintang fled to Taiwan in 1949, they imposed an authoritarian regime that many Taiwanese saw as backward in comparison to their experience under Japanese rule. 

Similar to Hong Kong’s resistance to Chinese rule that has played out in recent years, Taiwan’s resistance to reunification with China is rooted in the desire to protect its modern democratic system and its distinct identity from domination by the Chinese Communist Party government in China. 

After the KMT retreated to Taiwan, they went about consolidating power while under threats to their rule from both communist forces in mainland China and within Taiwan itself. 

The White Terror period

The White Terror refers to a period of political repression and persecution that occurred under the rule of the KMT. It lasted from approximately 1947 to 1987, during which time martial law was enforced.

This decades-long period of political repression was sparked by an infamous event in Taiwan’s history: the 228 Incident. What started as a spontaneous protest against the KMT’s corrupt and oppressive rule escalated into a widespread rebellion. Here’s a birds-eye overview of what happened at the time:

• Political background: After World War II under the terms of Japan’s surrender, Japan formally ceded Taiwan to the Republic of China, and the KMT assumed administrative control. However, this transfer was not immediately recognized by some in the international community. Nevertheless, the KMT’s military presence and political control quickly solidified as they imposed their rule on the island. 

Taiwan’s population,² many of whom had lived under Japanese rule for 50 years, initially welcomed the KMT but soon grew disillusioned due to corruption and mismanagement. This deepened the division between native Taiwanese (those living in Taiwan during Japanese rule) and the KMT administration, which was largely made up of Chinese mainlander immigrants.

When the KMT arrived in Taiwan, they imposed Mandarin as the official language of the island. This disregarded local languages, like Hokkien and Hakka, and created a cultural divide. Taiwanese who had lived under Japanese rule and developed a distinct identity found themselves alienated by this policy and the KMT’s authoritarian governance. 

The imposition of Mandarin became a symbol of the KMT’s efforts to erase local culture and deepened resistance and resentment toward KMT rule.

• The spark: In late February 1947, an incident (which later became known as the 228 incident) involving a dispute between a Taiwanese widow selling contraband cigarettes and agents from the Monopoly Bureau (which controlled tobacco sales) sparked public outrage. The agents attacked the woman, causing a crowd to gather. When one of the agents fired into the crowd, killing a bystander, the incident set off a chain reaction. 
  
• The uprising: Protests immediately spread throughout Taipei, and within days, demonstrations and uprisings against the KMT government erupted across the island. The demands included the removal of corrupt officials, reform of government policies, and greater local autonomy.For a brief period, Taiwanese citizens formed self-governing groups and took control of local government buildings and infrastructure in some areas.
  
• KMT response: Initially, the local KMT officials negotiated with the protestors. They even promised reforms. However, these efforts quickly broke down. Chiang Kai-shek, who was still based in mainland China, responded by sending military reinforcements to Taiwan.

Starting in early 1947, KMT troops arrived and began brutally suppressing the uprising. They implemented a campaign of mass arrests, killings, and repression that targeted anyone suspected of being involved in the rebellion or opposing the KMT. Thousands of Taiwanese were executed or disappeared, and many more were imprisoned or tortured.

• The White Terror period: The 228 Incident also set the stage for the next 40 years of KMT-led martial law in Taiwan that included continuing crackdowns on political dissent.
  
• Legacy and significance: For decades, the KMT government censored discussion of the 228 Incident. It was a taboo topic in Taiwan. It wasn’t until the democratization of Taiwan in the late 1980s and 1990s that the full scope of the tragedy came to light.

February 28 is now a national holiday in Taiwan known as Peace Memorial Day. The holiday commemorates the victims of the incident. Memorials, museums, and public discussions help honor those who lost their lives and serve as reminders of Taiwan’s difficult path to democracy.

Given the brutality of the White Terror period, the 228 Incident remains a deeply emotional and historically significant event in Taiwan’s identity and its relationship with both the Kuomintang and China.

The Wild Lily Movement and the push for democracy in Taiwan

The Wild Lily Movement that came of age in the early 1990s was the first major push toward democratic reforms in Taiwan’s history. 

• First actions: In March of 1990, students and protesters gathered at what is now known as Liberty Square in Taipei (then Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Square) to advocate for direct elections of Taiwan’s president and vice president, as well as the complete reelection of the National Assembly. 

This fundamentally was a push to end the old system in which members of these bodies held de-facto lifetime positions, as their seats had not been put up for election since the retreat of Chiang Kai-shek’s army to Taiwan some forty years earlier.

• Key leaders of the movement: While not a student leader, Lin Yi-hsiung, a prominent pro-democracy advocate and former DPP chair, was an influential figure behind the scenes. He supported the students and their push for political reform. Tsay Ting-kuei was another key activist who was later known for championing Taiwan independence.

Thousands of students were involved in the Wild Lily demonstrations, though no single student figure emerged as a defining leader. The students called for the direct election of the president, and their protests helped push the president at the time, Lee Teng-hui, toward democratic reforms. 

These extraordinary reforms included the abolishment of the KMT-dominated National Assembly that had been responsible for many authoritarian dictates over the years.

• Symbolism: The choice of the lily, specifically the Formosan³ Lily, as the movement’s symbol, was deeply symbolic. It represented the native, grassroots nature of the movement, as well as youth, purity, and the resilience of the Taiwanese identity. 
  
• Impact: The Wild Lily Movement is considered a pivotal event in Taiwan’s transition from one-party rule under the KMT to a multi-party democracy. It set a powerful precedent for public involvement in political affairs in Taiwan. Most importantly, the movement’s demands led to direct presidential elections in 1996.
  
• Legacy: The movement has left a lasting legacy on Taiwan’s political landscape. It is often cited as an example of peaceful protest leading to major political change. The site of the protest, now called Liberty Square, serves as a commemoration of this movement and Taiwan’s journey towards democracy.

The Wild Lily Movement that began in 1990 marked a critical turning point that is now regarded as a cornerstone in Taiwan’s democratic transition, as it catalyzed the end of martial law and the KMT’s monopoly on power.

The 2014 Sunflower Movement and the defeat of a pro-China trade agreement

Two decades later, in 2014, the Sunflower Movement reignited the spirit of youth activism. Protesters, predominantly students, occupied Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan in opposition to a trade agreement with China. 

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Their concerns centered on the growing economic dependence on China and the potential threat it posed to Taiwan’s sovereignty. As with the Wild Lily movement 24 years earlier, this movement resulted in tangible political change. 

As a result of the demonstrations and the public support they attracted, the trade deal known as the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement (CSSTA) supported by the KMT was shelved. These events also led to the rise of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which favored a more cautious approach to relations with China.

Below are some key details of the Sunflower Movement, which marked another major step in Taiwan’s political evolution:

• Occupation of the Legislative Yuan: On March 18, 2014, protesters stormed and occupied Taiwan’s Legislative Parliament in Taipei and demanded that the government retract the CSSTA. 

They also demanded that the government implement more transparent procedures for passing such agreements. The occupation lasted 24 days and drew widespread public attention and support.

• Concerns over Chinese influence: The protesters were particularly concerned that the trade agreement would allow Chinese companies to invest in a variety of Taiwanese business service sectors, such as banking, telecommunications, healthcare, and telecommunications. The fear was that such investments could compromise Taiwan’s political and economic independence.
  
• Public support: The movement gained broad public support, especially among Taiwan’s youth, who saw it as a fight for Taiwan’s democratic future. Thousands of people gathered outside the Legislative Yuan in support of the protestors. On March 30 that year, an estimated 500,000 people participated in a rally in Taipei.
  
• Key leaders of the movement: Lin Fei-fan was a student leader who organized and led the occupation of the Legislative Yuan. Lin vocally opposed the CSSTA. He argued that the agreement lacked transparency and could harm Taiwan’s sovereignty by deepening economic reliance on China.

Chen Wei-ting was another leading figure in the movement. Chen was involved in the planning and execution of the legislative occupation. He became one of the prominent spokespersons for the movement.

Huang Kuo-chang, a lawyer and scholar,  played an intellectual leadership role. Huang supported the students with legal advice and strategy. He later became a politician with the New Power Party, a political party born out of the Sunflower Movement.

• Legislative impact: Although the Legislative Yuan initially supported the CSSTA, the movement created a strong political and public consensus against the deal. This forced the KMT-led government to reconsider its approach to cross-strait agreements, and the bill was never voted on or formally approved.
  
• Change in the political landscape: In the subsequent 2016 elections, the DPP, which was more skeptical of closer ties with China, won both the presidency and a majority in the Legislative Yuan. This political shift further diminished the prospects of the CSSTA being revisited. 

Under the DPP government, there was little to no political will to bring the agreement back to the table, as the party’s platform emphasized maintaining Taiwan’s autonomy and resisting Chinese pressure.

• Effect on Taiwan’s relationship with China: The failure to pass the CSSTA into law due to Taiwan’s youth-led protests signaled that a majority of the nation’s population was wary of deepening economic reliance on China. 

The Sunflower Movement reinforced skepticism about Taiwan’s relationship with China, and after 2014, Taiwan’s government has been more cautious about signing similar agreements. Relations with China have since become more strained under the leadership of President Tsai Ing-wen⁴, who was fully committed to defending Taiwan’s sovereignty. 

• Sovereignty and national identity: While the Sunflower Movement itself did not directly improve Taiwan’s legal independence status, it played a critical role in shaping Taiwan’s political discourse around national identity and autonomy.

It also deepened the divide between those who favored closer economic and political ties with China, such as the KMT, and those who prioritized preserving Taiwan’s distinct identity and independence, such as the DPP and supporters of the movement. 

In this way, the Sunflower Movement helped solidify public resistance to Chinese influence and made further agreements with China politically contentious.

In the larger political picture, the Sunflower Movement emboldened young activists and gave rise to a more politically active younger generation in Taiwan. It also sparked broader conversations about government transparency and accountability, as well as Taiwan’s future relationship with China.

Lastly, it has reinforced Taiwan’s commitment to maintaining its democratic institutions and resisting undue Chinese influence, although Taiwan’s formal independence remains a delicate geopolitical issue.

The Bluebird Movement continues the fight for Taiwanese autonomy

The 2024 youth-led protests in Taiwan built upon the 2014 Sunflower Movement’s successes. 

Although protestors were unsuccessful in blocking the KMT/TPP-supported amendments from passing, the movement remains an example of how Taiwan’s youth activism has continued to advocate for and defend democratic values.

As far as the Bluebird protesters are concerned, the fight to defend Taiwan’s hard-won freedoms continues. 

Notes

1. The Executive Yuan consists of Taiwan’s executive agencies and ministries, including departments such as Health, Defense, Education, Finance, and more. It is the executive branch of the government responsible for carrying out the laws and managing the day-to-day operations of the state. 
   
   The Premier heads the Executive Yuan as its President and leads the Cabinet, which includes ministers and the heads of various government agencies. The Premier is appointed by the President and oversees the Cabinet and various ministries.
   
   The current President of Taiwan is Lai Ching-te, who was elected to office in January 2024.
   
   The Legislative Yuan is, as its name implies, the lawmaking branch of government in Taiwan. It is comparable to the United States Congress. 
   
2. Taiwan’s population is almost all Han Chinese. However, several distinct languages are spoken within different subgroups. The Hoklo people, who make up more than two-thirds of the population, speak mostly Taiwanese Hokkien. Roughly one-fifth of the population is Hakka and they speak Hakka. The Waishengren, who are descendants of Chinese mainlanders, speak Mandarin, which also is the official language of Taiwan. They make up about 10 percent of the population.
   
   While all of these groups are ethnically Han Chinese, their linguistic diversity reflects Taiwan’s unique history of migration and cultural development. Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, and Mandarin are all widely spoken, and many Taiwanese are bilingual or multilingual, with Mandarin serving as a common language across different subgroups.
   
3. Formosa was renamed Taiwan in the mid-20th century as part of a shift from its colonial name, used by the Portuguese. Taiwan is the island’s indigenous name. It has a historical connection to Chinese culture.
   
4. Tsai Ing-wen served two terms as Taiwan’s president from 2016 to 2024. She was succeeded by Lai Ching-te in 2024. Lai served as Taiwan’s Vice President from 2020 to 2024, before being elected to the presidency.