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    William Dalrymple (historian)

    Part of a series on
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    While there is no significant neo-Nazi movement other than one national socialism association officially founded in Taiwan, the use of Nazi symbolism and imagery in the country has been observed throughout the years, often causing controversy.[1][2] These occasions include a Nazi-themed parade at a school,[3] restaurants serving dishes honoring Nazis,[4] or displaying Nazi-related pictures and other decor,[5] which led to public outcries.

    Timeline of notable incidents

    1999

    In 1999, an advertisement for electric heaters made in Germany featured a smiling cartoon version of Adolf Hitler doing the Nazi salute. The slogan on the ad read “對寒流宣戰!” ("duì hánliú xuānzhàn"), meaning "Declare war on the cold front!"[6]

    2000

    A concentration camp-themed diner called “Jail” opened in Taipei, Taiwan. Besides a mural depicting death camp victims behind barbed wire, the decoration also featured various smaller photos of internees and other items such as shackles and mug shots, intended to give visitors a sense of eating in a jail; the restrooms were named gas chambers.

    Later, the restaurant's owner issued an apology, stating that Taiwanese people were not as aware of the historical context and therefore not as sensitive to it.[5]

    2001

    The Democratic Progressive Party published a campaign advertisement “嗆聲新世代” ("qiāngshēng xīn shìdài"), meaning "The New Generation who dares to speak", featuring an image of Hitler. They claimed the characters chosen for this campaign dared people to speak their minds, hoping to achieve a higher involvement of young people in politics.

    Several days after the release of the commercial and extensive criticism from various sources, it was taken down. Before the posters were removed, a disclaimer was added next to Hitler's image reading "獨裁造成災難," which translates to "Dictatorship causes disaster."[7]

    2004

    The Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party, KMT) used a photo of Hitler in an election campaign advertisement in a newspaper to compare then-President Chen Shui-bian to the German dictator. According to the commercial, President Chen shared some character traits with Hitler and was trying to oppress political opponents just like a dictator would.[8]

    2005

    The National Socialism Association (NSA) was founded by Taiwanese university graduates. They were inspired by the Nazis' views on immigration and their strong military. The NSA claims that they are neither racist nor antisemitic;[2][1] they also denied honoring Hitler.[9]

    2011

    During the "Iron Armour Combat Camp" in 2011, a photo of three students wearing Nazi uniforms was posted on the official website of the Ministry of National Defense. This incident ultimately led to an official apology to the Israeli representatives in Taiwan.[10]

    Taiwan's 7-Eleven convenience stores drew condemnation for selling Hitler themed toy dolls.[11][12]

    2013

    In an anti-gay parade, a person dressed as a Nazi was waving a sign that said "Nazis were anti-gay; I am anti-gay." The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed that Taiwan is a democratic country and that one person's actions do not represent the government's standpoint.[13]

    2014

    A public display of aircraft and weapons was held at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base (Taichung International Airport), during which some vendors wore swastika armbands without any authorization from the officials.[14]

    An Italian restaurant in New Taipei City put "Nazi Wansui" (roughly translated as “Long Live the Nazis”) Noodles and Pizza on their menu. In an apology, the owner of the restaurant explained that they chose the name to emphasize the origin of the dish's main ingredient, German sausage, after which he changed the dish's name.[15]

    2016

    For the anniversary of Hsinchu Kuang-Fu Senior High School, a homeroom class held a Nazi-themed parade. The students and their teacher were dressed in Nazi uniforms, waving Nazi flags. The German and Israeli representatives reacted with shock and horror. The students were largely not blamed, but both the teacher and the government were.[16]

    2018

    A high school in Hsinchu accidentally installed a Nazi-appropriated swastika in their school pond instead of the intended Buddhist symbol. As a temporary fix, they placed plants over the swastika.[17] Generally, the Buddhist community has been trying to reappropriate the swastika, which was supposed to be a peace symbol before it was corrupted by Hitler.[18]

    In another incident, a hair salon had their shop sign designed with razor blades arranged in a swastika shape. The owner was reported several times but stated that he couldn't afford to change it.[19]

    2023

    A man was seen waving a Nazi flag in front of a European school in Taipei. Israeli and European Union institutions reacted with concern, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement urging the population to respect others' feelings.[20]

    2024

    On 21 June 2024, a small group of protesters holding the Nazi flags appeared in front of the Legislative Yuan demanding to recover the unnamed old German Mark bonds that the Empire of Japan had obtained from Germany during World War I. The same organization had paraded against the German Institute Taipei in the Taipei 101 building in 2018 and marched with Nazi flags around the German athlete team in the 2017 Summer Universiade. Lawyer and international political observer Ross Feingold, founder of a Jewish association in Taipei, commented that it was a ridiculous historical mistake, not freedom of speech, and therefore the government shouldn't turn a blind eye to it.[21][22]

    2025

    On 15 April 2025, Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑, alternative spelling: Song Jianliang), an alleged KMT youth corps member leading the mass electoral recall campaigns, was under investigation for involvement in forging a recall petition.[23][24] On the way being summoned to the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office [zh] for questioning, he wore a Nazi armband, held a copy of Mein Kampf, kept shouting "Sieg Heil!" and raising Nazi salutes, then cursed the opponent Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as plague, while KMT supporter crowd cheered up with slogans.[25][26] German Institute Taipei, Israel economic and cultural representative [zh], Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DPP parliament members and President Lai Ching-te condemned the incident.[27][28][29][30][31] Chairman of the Kuomintang, Eric Chu, at first declined to reply with denouncement and commented that "Every way is a satire to DPP's vicious Green communists' dictatorship" next day, but changed tone under high criticism hours later as "firmly opposing the Nazis and fascism".[32][33] KMT youth corps also issued the "Opposing disgraceful political symbols; Supporting deepened democratic participation" statement and Song never been its member.[34][35] However, sources revealed that it is a widely known fact within Taipei high school circles that Sung has long idolized fascism, particularly Nazi ideology and symbolism, dating back to his high school years.[36]

    Reactions

    According to researchers, Nazi incidents in Taiwan are usually considered consequences of a lack of knowledge and ignorance on the subject.[37] On the Index of Ignorance, Taiwan is deemed the third most ignorant country.[38] On various social media sites, it has since been discussed whether Taiwanese students should be expected to have the same sensitivity regarding the Holocaust and Hitler's actions as German and Israeli students.

    Both Germany's and Israel's envoys in Taiwan have spoken out after multiple events, calling the use of Nazi symbolism disrespectful to Jewish people while also stating it displayed Taiwan's ignorance of history.[39] In response to those events and the backlash that ensued, the Taiwanese government is trying to educate the population. In 2018, a Holocaust memorial was held in Taipei in hopes of raising awareness.[40]

    Specifically regarding the 2016 Hsinchu School Parade, some users have expressed their lack of understanding of the harsh criticism directed at the students.[41] Some believed there seemed to be no particular form of hate against the Jewish community leading these events.[42] Afterward, President Tsai Ing-wen delivered a speech stating that "adults, not students" were responsible. She also acknowledged that it was the result of the nation’s "superficial" human rights education and a failure to teach young people about the state's repression of rights in the past.[43]

    In May 2023, the international news television network France 24 focused one of their “Truth or Fake” episodes on the pictures posted online of Taiwanese people using Nazi symbolism.[44]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ a b "Taiwan's Nazi Movement: Far-Right Group Blasted by Jewish Organizations". Hamburg, Germany: Spiegel International. 14 March 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
    2. ^ a b Ping Hsin (16 March 2007). "台灣的新納粹組織是怎麼回事？" [What is going on with the neo-Nazi organization in Taiwan?]. Deutsche Welle (in Traditional Chinese). Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    3. ^ Horton, Chris (27 December 2016). "School Parade in Taiwan Featuring Swastikas and Nazis Unleashed Uproar". The New York Times. New York City, United States. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    4. ^ "Taiwan Restaurant Apologizes for Pasta Dish Called 'Long Live the Nazis'". wsj.com. New York City, United States. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    5. ^ a b "Taiwanese dine in 'death camp'". news.bbc.co.uk. London, United Kingdom. 21 January 2000. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    6. ^ "'Hitler' heater ads draw fire from all quarters". Taipei, Taiwan. Associated Press. 23 November 1999. Retrieved 15 December 2023 – via Taipei Times.
    7. ^ Yang, Mengyu (18 July 2001). "民進黨停播有爭議政黨廣告" [Democratic Progressive Party stopped airing controversial political ads]. news.bbc.co.uk (in Traditional Chinese). Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    8. ^ "KMT apologizes about Hitler ad -- but not to Chen". taipeitimes.com. Taipei, Taiwan. 13 March 2004. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    9. ^ "納粹團否認尊希特勒" [The Nazi group denies honoring Hitler]. appledaily.com (in Traditional Chinese). Taipei, Taiwan. 18 March 2007. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    10. ^ "纳粹军装风波 台湾向以色列道歉" [Taiwan apologizes to Israel over the Nazi uniform controversy]. bbc.com (in Simplified Chinese). London, United Kingdom. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    11. ^ AFP. "Taiwan leader urges reflection over Nazi parade row". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
    12. ^ Harrison, Donald H. (26 September 2011). "Hitler toys being sold in Taiwan convenience stores". San Diego Jewish World. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
    13. ^ Shu, Zirong (4 December 2013). "穿納粹服反同志 以代表處關切". w.news.yahoo.com (in Traditional Chinese). Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    14. ^ Huang, Qianrong; Peng, Huanqun (21 July 2014). "清泉崗基地開放 驚見攤商掛納粹黨徽". Public Television Service, Taiwan Broadcasting System (in Traditional Chinese). Taichung, Taiwan. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    15. ^ "Taiwan Restaurant Apologizes for Pasta Dish Called 'Long Live the Nazis'". The Wall Street Journal. New York City, United States. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    16. ^ "Rektor tritt wegen Nazi-Parade zurück". spiegel.de (in German). Hamburg, Germany. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    17. ^ Li, Zuoheng; Chen, Shiming (25 September 2018). "誇張！錯把「卍」字右旋 校園驚現「納粹」符號". news.tvbs.com.tw (in Traditional Chinese). Hsinchu, Taiwan. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    18. ^ Bharath, Deepa (29 November 2022). "Asian faiths try to save sacred swastika corrupted by Hitler". Taipei Times. Hsinchu, Taiwan. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    19. ^ "一個圖騰…讓台灣人被國際認為「崇拜魔鬼、無知歷史」". United Daily News (in Traditional Chinese). Hsinchu, Taiwan. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2023 – via Global Views Monthly.
    20. ^ Ou, Yunrong; Peng, Yaozu (9 May 2023). "臺北歐洲學校前出現納粹旗 以色列.歐盟關切". news.pts.org.tw (in Traditional Chinese). Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    21. ^ Ding, Shi-jie (24 June 2024). "台北街頭出現納粹旗幟 方恩格：民進黨政府不該視而不見" [Nazi flags appear on the streets of Taipei. Ross Feingold: "The DPP government should not turn a blind eye"]. China Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
    22. ^ Yao, Yue-hong (18 January 2018). "舊馬克債變廢紙 這協會舉納粹旗到101前抗議" [As the old Mark debts turned into trash, this association is raising the Nazi flags to protest in front of the Taipei 101]. Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
    23. ^ "Nazi armband protest in recall petition case draws criticism - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 16 April 2025.
    24. ^ Li, Hong-dian (15 April 2025). "宋建樑戴卐字臂章、行納粹禮　學者：愚蠢無知青年軍，國民黨不會有未來" [Song Jianliang wore a swastika armband and perform Nazi salutes. Scholars comment: Stupid and ignorant youth corps, KMT will have no future]. SET News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
    25. ^ 中央通訊社 (16 April 2025). "罷免李坤城領銜人宋建樑涉不實連署 戴納粹臂章應訊交保後離開 | 社會" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 16 April 2025.
    26. ^ Chiu, Wen-hsin (15 April 2025). "發燒新聞／宋建樑應訊戴納粹臂章　網怒：國民黨丟光台灣的臉" [Top News/Song Jianliang wore the Nazi armband to answer questions. Netizens were angered: Taiwan is ashamed by Kuomintang] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). New Taipei City, Taiwan. FTV News. Retrieved 16 April 2025 – via Youtube.
    27. ^ Yang, Shi-yi (15 April 2025). "快訊／宋建樑行納粹禮挨轟！德國在台協會最強烈譴責：無恥的行為" [Breaking news/Song Jianliang was criticized for performing the Nazi salutes! German Institute Taipei strongly condemns it as a shameless conduct]. SET News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 16 April 2025 – via Youtube.
    28. ^ Yang, Yaoru (16 April 2025). "罷綠委領銜人戴納粹臂章 以色列代表斥：背離台灣價值[影]" [Leader of electral recall campaigns against Green legislators wore the Nazi armband; Israeli representative condemned it as deviating from Taiwan's values] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei, Taiwan. Central News Agency (Taiwan). Retrieved 16 April 2025.
    29. ^ Li, Guan-zhi (15 April 2025). "丟臉！藍罷團領銜人戴「卐」臂章行納粹禮　外交部怒斥：破壞台灣形象" [What a shame! Leader of the Pan-Blue electrol recall campaign wore the "卐" armband and performed the Nazi salutes. Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced in fury: It damages Taiwan's image]. SET News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
    30. ^ Wang, Rong-hsiang (16 April 2025). "藍營青年軍行納粹禮？黃捷雙語發圖文：防國民黨影響台灣形象" [Blue camp youth corps performed Nazi salutes? Huang Jie publishes bilingual text and picture to prevent Kuomintang affecting Taiwan's image]. Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
    31. ^ Liu, Yu-chiu (16 April 2025). "罷團領銜人戴納粹臂章 賴清德：任何政黨都不可學習納粹" [Leader of the electral recall campaigns wore the Nazi armband. Lai Ching-te: Any political party should not imitate the Nazis] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Radio Taiwan International. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
    32. ^ Yang, Shi-yi (15 April 2025). "宋建樑行納粹禮　朱立倫沒譴責還嗆「綠共」：反諷民進黨惡質獨裁" [Song Jianliang performed Nazi salutes. Eric Chu did not condemn it but criticized DPP as "green communists" to satirize the vicious dictatorship]. SET News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
    33. ^ Huang, Wei-chuan (16 April 2025). "才稱納粹臂章是諷刺「綠共」　朱立倫改口了：絕不允許法西斯" [After saying that the Nazi armband was satire on "Green Communists", Chu changed tone: Fascism will never be allowed] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei, Taiwan. TVBS News. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
    34. ^ Cheng, Pei-wen (16 April 2025). "朱立倫護航藍納粹青年鬧上國際　青年團滅火：唾棄不當政治符號" [Eric Chu covering the Blue Nazi youth causing international dispute; the Youth Corps put out the fire: Opposing inadequate political symbols] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei, Taiwan. Eastern Broadcasting Company. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
    35. ^ Thompson, James; Wang, Yang-yu; Liu, Kuan Ting (16 April 2025). "KMT expresses opposition to fascism after activist wears Nazi swastika". Taipei, Taiwan. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
    36. ^ 詹, 家威 (16 April 2025). "宋建樑高中黑歷史遭起底 把希特勒當崇拜對象 多次宣稱將成總統". Newtalk新聞 (in Chinese). Retrieved 16 April 2025.
    37. ^ Lin, Nansen (22 March 2007). "分析：台學生納粹組織的思想根源". news.bbc.co.uk (in Traditional Chinese). London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    38. ^ Kenzo (23 December 2016). "全球「無知國家」台灣名列第三 僅勝過中國、印度". thenewslens.com (in Traditional Chinese). Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    39. ^ Winer, Stuart (25 December 2016). "Taiwanese high school holds Nazi-themed parade". The Times of Israel. Jerusalem, Israel. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
    40. ^ "Holocaust memorial event held in Taipei to call for awareness of genocide, and respect for human rights". taiwannews.com.tw. Taipei, Taiwan. 25 February 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    41. ^ Low, Zi-Qing (27 December 2016). "Taiwan Nazi Parade Continues Decades of Ignorance; Netizens Defend Students". international.theneslens.com. Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    42. ^ Jennings, Ralph (29 December 2016). "Why Asians Mimic The Nazis: Dress-Up Games And A Sense Of Power". forbes.com. Jersey City, New Jersey. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    43. ^ Hsu, Stacy (30 December 2016). "Adults at fault for Nazi incident: Tsai". taipeitimes.com. Taipei, Taiwan. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
    44. ^ Bahl, Vedika (5 May 2023). "What we know about the photos of Nazi flags in Taiwan". france24.com. Paris, France. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
    Credit: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_symbolism_in_Taiwan

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