Green Terror (Taiwan)

"Green Terror" (Chinese: 綠色恐怖; pinyin: Lǜsè Kǒngbù; Wade–Giles: 44 Kʻung3pu4) is a political term used to characterize and criticize purported "authoritarian-like" actions of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) or the pan-Green camp. It is used by the DPP's opponents in Taiwan (mainly the pan-Blue camp and the Taiwan People's Party), but is also sometimes used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and local CCP supporters.[1][a] The term is a combination the DPP's party color and "White Terror", a reference to political repression under the Kuomintang's rule by martial law.

Examples

Since 2014, the Ma Ying-jeou government has attempted to reduce Taiwanization and strengthen the identity of the 'Republic of China' in high school history subjects. This has intensified into a political debate, with criticism from pan-Green camps, including the DPP, which values the 'Taiwanese' identity over the identity of the 'Republic of China'.[citation needed] After asserting that the DPP's view on the deletion of the "White Terror" from the new syllabus was a form of de-Taiwanization, Lin Ming-cheng [zh], a politician with the Chinese ultra-nationalist New Party, said that the DPP's approach was the "Green Terror".[3]

Following the arrest of Ko Wen-je, the chairman of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), Huang Kuo-chang blamed the arrest on Green Terror.[4]

When the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis (caused by Yoon Suk Yeol, the then far-right[5] anti-communist South Korea's president) broke out, the DPP Legislative Caucus posted an article on Threads, claiming that the declaration of martial law was a legitimate effort to protect free constitutional democracy in South Korea.[6][7] This led to the DPP being criticized by South Korean netizens, Chang Chi-kai and some Chinese/Taiwanese media dubbed it the "Green Terror".[8][9][10][11][12]

Similar term

  • "Green Communists" (Chinese: 綠共; pinyin: lǜgòng; Wade–Giles: 4kung4) is a term used to criticize the DPP's political behavior as "CCP-like". Comparing DPP to the CCP is meant to accuse DPP of controlling speech, fighting against dissidents, promoting nationalism, and using the judiciary to persecute political opponents.[14][15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Some media criticized the DPP's politics as quasi-fascist or far-right.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Beijing Latches Onto 'Green Terror' Claims to Stoke Historical Divisions in Taiwan". The Diplomat. October 2, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  2. ^ "日本記者本田善彥:民進黨種族主義表露無遺". China Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 28 December 2018. 民進黨一旦執政,吸引文青的美好願景就變成噁心的偽善把戲與類法西斯的極右作風。
  3. ^ "力挺課綱微調 抗獨史陣線嗆「綠色恐怖」" [The Anti-Independence History Front strongly supports curriculum adjustments and condemns 'green terror']. 風傳媒. 2014-03-21. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  4. ^ "黃國昌:柯文哲陷綠色恐怖 民眾黨不會讓柯家人孤單" [Huang Kuo-chang: Ko Wen-je is trapped in a green terror; the Taiwan People's Party will not let the Ko family be alone]. 中央社 CNA. February 28, 2025. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  5. ^ "The troubling far-right tendencies of Korea's Yoon Suk-yeol". The Hankyoreh. 28 December 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  6. ^ Thompson, James (4 December 2024). "DPP deletes post comparing South Korea martial law incident to Taiwan". Focus Taiwan – CNA English News. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  7. ^ Thomson, Jono (4 December 2024). "Opposition criticizes DPP for likening S Korea martial law to Taiwan". Taiwan News. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  8. ^ "民進黨團挺南韓戒嚴?張啓楷:白色恐怖變綠色恐怖" [DPP supports martial law in South Korea? Chang Chi-kai: White Terror Turns into Green Terror]. 聯合新聞網. December 4, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  9. ^ "韓國戒嚴|民進黨發文力挺製「綠色恐怖」 韓網民:台灣人太瘋狂" [DPP's support for martial law in South Korea, South Korean netizens on "Green Terror": Taiwanese are too crazy.]. HK01. December 4, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  10. ^ "政治受難人團體:反對「戒嚴說」 拒絕威權心態 民進黨要道歉". 兩岸犇報. December 5, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  11. ^ "民進黨「戒嚴文」掀怒火 高嘉瑜表態了:非常不妥". 中時新聞網. December 5, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  12. ^ "批民進黨團拿戒嚴恐嚇台灣人民 白委:白色恐怖變綠色恐怖?". Newtalk新闻. December 4, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  13. ^ "《吳恭銘觀點》噴黑話自嗨!柯粉「閩猴論」的邏輯謬誤與道德困境". 28 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-12-23. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  14. ^ "台灣看中共百年・五|「綠共民進黨」:台灣人對中共的誤讀". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  15. ^ "民進黨是綠共還是真反共?". United Daily News (in Chinese). 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  16. ^ "「哥布林」的網路語境轉移,網路終究是短憶的". 奔騰思潮 (in Chinese). 2024-10-15. Retrieved 2026-02-07.