Wu Sz-huai of the 800 Warriors insists he is no ‘fat cat.’ Instead, he says, his group is fighting to defend the dignity of Taiwan’s military.

The News Lens
Date: 2018/07/09
By: Denis Li

For over 500 days, protesters from the veterans group 800 Warriors (八百壯士) have

Photo Credit: Zeke Li

been entrenched outside of Taiwan’s parliament, the Legislative Yuan, ‘fighting the long war’ in opposition of military pension reform. During the exhausting struggle, the 800 Warriors have even lost one of their brothers in arms, Qi Desheng (繆德生). Following wave after wave of passionate protests, they have decided to shift their approach while continuing to fight for their constitutional rights.

Ever since their establishment, the 800 Warriors have been a frequent target of criticism. At protests, they sing military songs, wave the flag of Taiwan, and chant the words “Defend the Motherland, Reunification with China.” Their actions position them a world apart from the identity and culture of the younger generation and make them seem out of touch with Taiwan’s current reality. On several occasions, large swarms of protesters have clashed violently with the media and the police, leading to them being branded as an angry mob.    [FULL  STORY]