Taiwanese Nazis
March 13th, 2007 by MarkDuring the time I’ve been living in Taiwan, I’ve occasionally been shocked at the way Hitler is portrayed here. His image has been used by (completely ignorant) marketers, and there have been occasional restaurants and exhibitions themed in a way that could never happen in many countries. A couple of years ago, a Chinese video game of the same genre as Civilization had Hitler as one of the playable characters. Still, it came as a shock when I heard that a group of college students here have actually formed a Nazi association.
Hsu, who graduated from the political department of Soochow University last year, noted that she was so fed up with all the political wrangling between the ruling and opposition parties that she and several other followers of Nazi ideology decided to found the association.
It is hoped that they could transform Taiwan into a Nazi country, said Hsu.
The association’s views on current policies and events, Nazi philosophy and an introduction to Hitler can be found on its Web site, which has “Do not come in if you dislike Hitler” emblazoned on the home page.
Taiwan News Online: Students found group hailing Hitler
I don’t know that much about Taiwan’s laws regarding the protection of free speech, but it seems likely that they resemble the those of the US more than those of most European countries- at least on this issue. What’s surprising is how little media attention it’s gotten. I just searched the Taipei Times for anything about this story. Despite the fact that it’s the largest English language paper here, there wasn’t even a single mention of it.
Update: The Taipei Times has finally written about this topic. It’s almost as if they were reading my blog. The article also includes an excerpt from an interview with a man from Neihu, who hangs a swastika outside his window:
“Taiwan used to be a part of the axis as a part of Japan,” he said. “Who did more for Taiwan than Goto Shinpei as the governor-general?”
“When the KMT came, they were the brutal occupiers, they oppressed the Taiwanese,” the man said.
Asked if he believed he would have fit in society if Taiwan were still under Japanese occupation, the man replied: “I am in contact with hard-right [sic] elements in Japan … they all love Taiwanese people. If the KMT did not take over Taiwan, I believe that in time we would have been accepted as Japanese.”
The Taipei Times: `Nazi’ group seeks NGO status
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March 13th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
This is bizarre. Would Hitler have supported them? Wouldn’t they find themselves classified as Untermenschen if they took a good, honest look at the Nazis’ race ideology? What the hell is going on over on your little island?
March 13th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
i hope this has nothing to do with wanting to get revenge on the average wai sheng ren. well, i hope it has nothing to do with any kind of violence period. my mother was a child prisoner of the Nazis.
March 13th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
There is a Nazi flag hanging in the window of one of the apartments visible from the MRT on the Red line (between Qian and Qiliyan stations if memory serves me correct, looking looking east).
I also remember seeing one in a restaurant (I can’t remember where at the moment) where it was hanging amongst other flags.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
A couple of months ago here in Fengyuan, I saw an old man walking around the downtown area in a stormtrooper’s helmet, complete with Nazi (not Buddhist) swastikas.
March 14th, 2007 at 2:34 am
Totally nuts!
Hey Mark, can you find out where they are meeting on Saturday in Taichung? Rabbi Cooper from the Simon Wiesenthal Center in LA wants to know.
March 14th, 2007 at 2:42 am
Actually, this story has hit the world media right now. I discovered it a few days ago and since then it has hit other media, from Israel to the US.
March 14th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Todd,
Eli and I found the apartment of the very man with the Nazi flag visible from Qiyan. We were probably pretty brazen about pushing into a gated community and pressing doorbells until we found the right apartment. The guy there hated the KMT and have never heard of the NSA. You can read about it in the Taipei times story.
Many members of the NSA, on the other hand, are very “Blue” including Hsu despite her claims to be sick of blue-green partisanship.
Range,
If Rabbi cooper still needs the info, I can forward it to you along with other info, numbers etc. Just let me know at angelica.oung@gmail.com
Mark,
Why yes I do read your blog, but I’ve actually been working on the story for a few days. I didn’t want to write it until I got to talk with the NSA kids. It’s too bad I Hsu wasn’t answering her cell phone any more — she seems to be the really rabid nazi.
March 15th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
According to their website, they want to retake CHINA and set up capital in Nanjing and they want foreign workers in Taiwan to leave ASAP. they aren’t against Jews, they don’t know Jews. These are not the people who self-identify as Taiwanese. They belong to the small shrinking group who regard themselves as Chinese. I would not be too surprised if they gain more support in China, not Taiwan. So careful with your response. Ignorance is just everywhere. An intereting small island with split identies,
March 15th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Angelica, I just made that comment about it being “as if they were reading my blog” because the article appeared so quickly after I said how shocked I was that there was not a single thing on Taiwanese Nazi’s in the paper’s search archive.
March 17th, 2007 at 3:25 am
I think that Mike Turton and Dan Bloom are on the case with success. I’ll email them and forward your email. I have been in Hong Kong for a few days.
March 19th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Same sort of thing over in this part of the world. It’s pick and choose… they look only at what their small minds consider “glamorous”.
I guess in their narrow approach to to find something “different” or to make a statement about anarchy, these Taiwanese Nazis have indeed made their mark - as we and others, are discussing it.
August 2nd, 2007 at 4:48 am
This is disturbing. On the other side visitors/expats/etc often freak out over the Buddhist swastikas on restaurants without knowing what they’re about. So I hope people know what they’re seeing before making assumptions about whether something is nazi or buddhist.