A young activist confesses to her mentor that she was groped by a senior party official. “Let’s not quit. There is so much you won’t let go. If you let go, you will die slowly. You will die.” This scene from a Taiwanese drama on Netflix, Those who make the waves, sparked a nationwide conversation. Chen Chien-jou, a former employee of the Progressive Democratic Party, spoke publicly days later, revealing that her supervisor had denied sexual harassment allegations years earlier. “Let’s not quit,” he urged in a letter. The supervisor, already a senior figure, was dismissed the next day and would later resign.
Dozens of complaints surfaced as the episode aired at the end of May, flooding social networks with the headline “Let’s not let it pass.” The reports covered a range of behaviors, from unwanted touching and kissing to rude flirting and even attempted rape. There is no pristine space: politics, entertainment, journalism, activism, and the university sphere have all seen allegations. Chuang Suo-hang, a Taiwanese senior representative in Thailand, resigned after being accused by a colleague in his office, while a Polish diplomat, Bartosz Rys, left the island and faced no formal investigation. TV figure Miki Huang apologized for kissing someone without permission and for a nude photo; police are investigating a singer, Aaron Yan, for secretly filming his ex-boyfriend as a teenager. Symbols themselves did not escape the scrutiny. Two people accused of sexual harassment from WangHe became prominent voices in Taiwan’s pro-democracy movement, hosting discussions since activists began speaking out after fleeing China following the Tiananmen events.
The crisis shook a party that positions itself as a guarantor of progress and gender equality. With six months to the presidential election, the incident added fuel to a volatile political climate. Observers noted how a single television episode could influence Taiwan’s relationship with China, a topic that has always been fraught. The Progressive Democratic Party, known for its independent stance, faced questions about its leadership and credibility. In addition to its China policy, the party has appealed to younger voters with a liberal, reform-minded platform. Investigations revealed that abuse complaints had been mishandled, undermining public trust and prompting a robust damage-control effort. The prime minister and President Tsai Ing-wen apologized on multiple occasions, with several senior officials resigning over how complaints were handled and new proposals aimed at making schools and workplaces safer and more accountable for safeguarding victims. Recent polls reflected a decline in support, with Tsai’s ratings dipping to a four-year low. Analysts pointed to a pattern of misconduct within the party and the broader failure to address harassment complaints, including an incident involving an eighty-year-old figure and discussions about potential prosecution. A presidential adviser suggested the incident occurred outside the presidential building.
Possible selection bias
News coverage at times seemed to favor the Kuomintang, which is perceived as more aligned with traditional values and China. The Kuomintang has faced fewer accusations than the PDP, and its older, more conservative base remains a formidable share of its electorate.
“It’s hard to say if the allegations shifted the election results, because the MeToo movement has already transcended party lines. Complaints have come from across the political spectrum. If there is stronger backlash against entrenched power, it may reflect a more modern image and greater demand for accountability,” explained Sheng-yen Lu, a professor of Genre Studies at Taiwan Normal University.
In many cases, the victims feel overlooked. Some observers compare Taiwan with Japan and South Korea, noting that economic development and gender equality do not always advance in lockstep. Yet Taiwan has embedded liberal values in its identity, and leaders have stressed democracy as a defining feature. It was among the first Asian countries to legalize same-sex marriage and has made strides in representation and governance. Women hold a significant share of parliamentary seats, with numbers surpassing many regional peers and, in some metrics, rivaling those in the United States. These gains coexist with ongoing cultural and institutional challenges.
Progress in equality
“Taiwanese society prizes harmony and places great emphasis on interpersonal relationships, sometimes more than formal laws,” noted a professor from Taipei University who asked not to be named. “Over the past thirty years, gender equality has progressed, and many institutions have invested in building fairer ecosystems. Still, women, especially feminists, often bear the burden of pushing for change within organizations.”
Taiwan’s legal framework did not explicitly define sexual harassment until the early 1990s, but the country has since expanded protections and integrated gender equality education into school programs. While older generations still shape business norms and attitudes persist, there is a visible tension between official discourse and long-standing cultural traditions. The uneven pace of change underscores the need for continuous vigilance and reform.
“Gender equality in institutions was established long ago, yet subtle cultural shifts take time. The MeToo era has shown that public denunciation can be a powerful tool, and that victims deserve broader support,” commented Wen-ti Sung, a political analyst.