Taiwanese opposition's hunger strike criticized as 'meme' protest lacking clear demands

A group of Kuomintang (KMT) politicians in Taiwan, including Taipei city councilors and candidates, have launched a hunger strike outside the Presidential Office Building, ostensibly to protest food safety issues. However, critics argue the protest is performative and lacks clear objectives, likening it to a "meme" that fails to articulate concrete demands.

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No one wants to eat toxic oil. But a hunger strike protest, that can't clarify its demands, has no exit mechanism, and gets cornered by reporters, will only end up with fancy scolding of the central government and repeating that they don't want to eat toxic oil. So, what is there to discuss about this protest?

Zhang Yumeng, chairman of the Taiwan Youth Generation Association for Common Prosperity, criticized the protest, stating, "No one wants to eat toxic oil." He argued that the hunger strike is poorly defined, lacks an exit strategy, and has devolved into participants repeatedly stating they do not want to eat unsafe food. "If it's hard to discuss specific demands, isn't that forcing everyone to check three times a day, asking if you've been eating secretly?" Zhang questioned, highlighting the perceived lack of substance.

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The KMT's hunger strikes always turn into memes, but they never learn their lesson.

The article draws parallels to previous KMT hunger strikes, citing an incident in 2017 where legislators staged a "fasting" protest against a forward-looking budget. Zhang pointed out that the duration and impact of these past protests were often exaggerated or misrepresented, with participants claiming to have fasted for extended periods or slept in tents, only to return to their duties shortly after. He noted instances where claims of fasting were later revised or where participants left for other commitments, such as court appearances, while still claiming to be on strike.

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I had to 'temporarily leave' Kaidao because I have court on Monday, but because I haven't eaten since Sunday morning, it counts as 'me connecting my own connection', totaling 30 hours of hunger strike.

This latest hunger strike has also faced scrutiny for its execution. One participant, Lai Yiren, stated he had to "temporarily leave" the protest for a court appearance but claimed his hunger strike hours would still count because he hadn't eaten since Sunday morning. Zhang found this logic baffling, suggesting it would have been simpler to start the protest on Monday. The article suggests a pattern of political theater, where the KMT's hunger strikes, including a notable one by Shen Zhi-hui in 2020, are seen as attempts to generate attention and political mileage rather than achieve tangible policy changes. The protest's legitimacy is questioned when participants are caught accepting food deliveries or making contradictory statements, such as Zhao Shaokang's nonsensical phrase "accumulation is continuity, continuity is accumulation."

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Accumulation is continuity, continuity is accumulation.