Reposted by Roy Ngerng 鄞義林Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 12/09/2026China at it again... www.reuters.com/world/asia-p... 032
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 12/09/2026China at it again... www.reuters.com/world/asia-p... 032
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 05/09/2026I am on Radio Taiwan Intl's podcast to talk about the low wage situation in Taiwan causing the economic imbalances, and how it is necessary to adopt a new mindset to raise wages faster in order to rebalance Taiwan's economy — together with @donovan-smith.bsky.social ! www.rti.org.tw/en/programne...rti.org.twEp. 44 - Economic inequality in Taiwan, a perspective on the Falklands, and more - RtiIn this episode: - Roy Ngern and Courtney Donovan Smith on inequal economic development in T... 196
Reposted by Roy Ngerng 鄞義林Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Taiwan is discussing 2027's minimum wage this month, so I wrote this article explaining the wage and profits imbalances in Taiwan's economy, and how it needs to raise wages faster to restore balance, and ensure fairer growth for workers and domestic firms. royngerng1.wordpress.com/2026/09/01/t...royngerng1.wordpress.comThe Reasons Behind Taiwan’s K-Shaped Economy and Average Wage Not Growing FasterThis month, Taiwan will discuss the magnitude to raise the minimum wage for next year. News reports quote human resources experts as being concerned about wage compression if minimum wage increases… 073
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Taiwan is discussing 2027's minimum wage this month, so I wrote this article explaining the wage and profits imbalances in Taiwan's economy, and how it needs to raise wages faster to restore balance, and ensure fairer growth for workers and domestic firms. royngerng1.wordpress.com/2026/09/01/t...royngerng1.wordpress.comThe Reasons Behind Taiwan’s K-Shaped Economy and Average Wage Not Growing FasterThis month, Taiwan will discuss the magnitude to raise the minimum wage for next year. News reports quote human resources experts as being concerned about wage compression if minimum wage increases… 073
Reposted by Roy Ngerng 鄞義林Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 27/08/2026In this new article, I looked at data to explain how low wages have robbed SME manufacturing and domestic industries of growth, creating an imbalanced economy; and that higher wages can spur innovation and domestic demand, to drive more balanced growth. justicefortaiwan.wordpress.com/2026/08/26/r...justicefortaiwan.wordpress.comRaising Minimum Wage Faster Will Support Stronger Growth for Taiwan’s SMEsIt is the time of the year when Taiwan’s Minimum Wage Deliberation Committee meets next month to discuss raising the minimum wage for next year. Like clockwork as they do every year, some business … 021
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 27/08/2026In this new article, I looked at data to explain how low wages have robbed SME manufacturing and domestic industries of growth, creating an imbalanced economy; and that higher wages can spur innovation and domestic demand, to drive more balanced growth. justicefortaiwan.wordpress.com/2026/08/26/r...justicefortaiwan.wordpress.comRaising Minimum Wage Faster Will Support Stronger Growth for Taiwan’s SMEsIt is the time of the year when Taiwan’s Minimum Wage Deliberation Committee meets next month to discuss raising the minimum wage for next year. Like clockwork as they do every year, some business … 021
Reposted by Roy Ngerng 鄞義林Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 19/08/2026In this new article, I write that Taiwan's GDP is projected to overtake Italy and reach France and New Zealand's levels by 2031, but Taiwan's wages and profits are still unevenly distributed, and Taiwan needs to grow wages faster to align with theirs. justicefortaiwan.wordpress.com/2026/08/19/t...justicefortaiwan.wordpress.comTaiwan’s Economy and Profits Are Rapidly Growing but Its Wages Are NotTaiwan’s economy is seeing phenomenon growth and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that Taiwan’s GDP per capita will grow by over US$15,000 in the next five years to reach US$56,101 in… 183
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 19/08/2026In this new article, I write that Taiwan's GDP is projected to overtake Italy and reach France and New Zealand's levels by 2031, but Taiwan's wages and profits are still unevenly distributed, and Taiwan needs to grow wages faster to align with theirs. justicefortaiwan.wordpress.com/2026/08/19/t...justicefortaiwan.wordpress.comTaiwan’s Economy and Profits Are Rapidly Growing but Its Wages Are NotTaiwan’s economy is seeing phenomenon growth and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that Taiwan’s GDP per capita will grow by over US$15,000 in the next five years to reach US$56,101 in… 183
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 03/06/2026The Manchu people used to rule one of the largest territories in the world—the Qing Empire. Today, it has disappeared and the Chinese people have appropriated Qing territories as their own. Tibet, East Turkestan, and part of Taiwan were colonized by Manchu, but Chinese also appropriated this claim. 0102
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 17/05/2026In an interview yesterday, Puma Shen said that Taiwan is trying to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Straits. He said that China is seeking to invade Taiwan, but Taiwan is not seeking to invade China. Taiwan is trying to maintain peace and the status quo. 094
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 06/05/2026Now we just need China to do the same. www.reuters.com/world/china/...reuters.comNorth Korea revises constitution to drop references to unification of Korean PeninsulaNorth Korea has revised its constitution to define its territory as bordering South Korea and remove references to reunification, according to a draft of the text reviewed by Reuters, codifying leade... 030
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 03/05/2026Omg. Taiwan called China's "fishwife's gutter talk is boring in the extreme". 😂 www.reuters.com/world/china/...reuters.comTaiwan president defiant as begins Eswatini trip; China calls him a 'rat'Taiwan has a right to engage with the world and no country can stop that, President Lai Ching-te told Eswatini's king after he arrived for a surprise trip that Taipei says Beijing tried to stop, as C... 051
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 17/04/2026South Korea is going to set a higher minimum wage for low‑paid migrant workers like shipbuilding workers, to push up foreign worker wages in order to protect the wage levels of South Korean workers. Taiwan should do the same to protect Taiwan's workers. www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/g...koreatimes.co.krKorea moves to raise minimum salary for foreign workers to protect Korean wages - The Korea TimesKorea is moving to introduce what would function as a higher minimum wage floor for many foreign workers, by writing “reasonable” wage requirements... 033
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 16/04/2026South Korea is using the Iran war to accelerate its transition into renewable energy and to move towards greater energy self-sufficiency on safer energy sources. Taiwan needs to do the same. 韓國正利用伊朗戰爭,加速推動再生能源轉型,並透過更安全的能源來邁向更高的能源自給率。台灣也必須這麼做。 www.cnbc.com/2026/04/16/i...cnbc.comIran war sparks 'fundamental energy transition' in Seoul toward renewables: Energy ministerKim said South Korea will focus on wind and solar power to achieve its goal of reaching 100 gigawatts renewable energy capacity 031
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/04/2026So happy for Hungary! www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...theguardian.comHungarian opposition ousts Viktor Orbán after 16 years in powerPéter Magyar’s Tisza party wins election as prime minister concedes defeat, in result likely to reshape ties with EU 060
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 10/04/2026Also, it's not really a big deal in Taiwan that an opposition leader from Taiwan met with Xi Jinping, because who celebrates your own countryman shaking hands with a dictator who wants to colonize your country and even said he wouldn't renounce the use of force to do so? 020
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 10/04/2026And if we think one country waging war is ok, but not the other, then it's not war we are against. If we truly believe in protecting the international order but has no issue with China invading Taiwan, then there'll be no international order to speak of, and that's reality. 120
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 10/04/2026Which warmonger admits that they are the ones waging a war. Of course China wouldn't admit it's invading another country. War is wrong whether it's Israel against Palestine, US against Iran, Iran against Middle East countries, Russia against Ukraine, or China against Taiwan. 110
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 10/04/2026Taiwan is not part of and is not ruled by China. And no matter what a dictator says, it doesn't change the reality of things. Of course a warmonger who wants to colonize another country will say that that country is the "culprit in undermining peace". www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...reuters.com 141
Reposted by Roy Ngerng 鄞義林Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 17/03/2026In part 2 of this new article, I write that Taiwan's wages are higher than China and housing prices are lower, giving Taiwanese higher purchasing powers. Work hours are also shorter. For younger workers and parents, Taiwan's work benefits are better too. ketagalanmedia.com/2026/03/16/a...ketagalanmedia.comAre China’s Wages and Workers Better Off Than Taiwan? – Part II - Ketagalan MediaThere may be a misconception that China’s economic conditions are better than Taiwan, but when we compare the data, Taiwan’s workers are still better off than China. 0134
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 17/03/2026In part 2 of this new article, I write that Taiwan's wages are higher than China and housing prices are lower, giving Taiwanese higher purchasing powers. Work hours are also shorter. For younger workers and parents, Taiwan's work benefits are better too. ketagalanmedia.com/2026/03/16/a...ketagalanmedia.comAre China’s Wages and Workers Better Off Than Taiwan? – Part II - Ketagalan MediaThere may be a misconception that China’s economic conditions are better than Taiwan, but when we compare the data, Taiwan’s workers are still better off than China. 0134
Reposted by Roy Ngerng 鄞義林Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 16/03/2026In this new article, I write that while China's first-tier cities create the illusion that China is doing economically better because of its shiny buildings, China's workers on the whole still earn lower wages than Taiwan and incomes are more unequal. ketagalanmedia.com/2026/03/16/a...ketagalanmedia.com 0123
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 16/03/2026In this new article, I write that while China's first-tier cities create the illusion that China is doing economically better because of its shiny buildings, China's workers on the whole still earn lower wages than Taiwan and incomes are more unequal. ketagalanmedia.com/2026/03/16/a...ketagalanmedia.com 0123
Reposted by Roy Ngerng 鄞義林Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026In the Iran war, Americans recognize the current US regime as 'bad' for unilaterally starting a war, but why do some of them not recognize the oppressive Iranian regime as 'bad', and even try to legitimize it, to delegitimize US's attacks? Chanced upon this helpful study. /1 111
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026Two previous threads I wrote in the last few days on the same question—on how we are perceiving human rights regarding the war in the Middle East: bsky.app/profile/royn... bsky.app/profile/royn... /12 000
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026For me, the moral discourse around US's attacks on Iran should refocus on our own hypocrisy and a lack of a truly universal system to protect human rights. But what it has only shown is our moral discourse has always been selfish—about protecting our own beliefs over others. /11 110
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026So whose rights are we feeling aggrieved for? For individuals or regimes? But do regimes deserves rights when they do not represent their citizens and even oppress them? And if global systems are structured around regimes, can they truly protect individual rights? /10 121
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026But realistically, given the existence of authoritarian regimes who are happy to disregard the rights of their own citizens while claiming to support the rules-based system, we were just kicking the problem down the road. When China attacks Taiwan, it'll be a bigger question. /9 110
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026But I do not have an answer. The larger question for me is that US's attacks on Iran and its moralization exposes the hypocrisy that the so-called international rules-based order is riddled with holes which we have been happy to ignore, because we aren't affected. /8 110
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026When we perceive US's attacks on a right and wrong framework, which framework are we using when right and wrong differs based on who is viewing the attacks, in the face of a lack of a truly rules-based system that can provide protection on one universal right-wrong alignment. /7 110
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026US's unilateral attacks against Iran is wrong (even on the excuses of helping the Iranians), but there's simply no system that adjudicates on the wrongdoings of the Iranian regime & then deliberate sanctioned action to take them out, to stop their oppression against Iranians. /6 110
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026Beyond what is right or wrong, the deeper question is, why are we led to this situation today? We were supposed to have an international rules-based system, but do we really? For Iranians living under oppression, the international system has abandoned them. /5 110
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026It feels like the current war in the Middle East is a perfect moral dilemma. If we take a firm stance against US action in Iran, do we deny the rights of oppressed Iranians? If we do not reject US action because many Iranians find reprieve, are we supporting US tyranny too? /4 110
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026I feel conflicted because there are many bad actors (the regimes in US, Israel, Iran), and many victims (Americans who do not want another war, Iranians oppressed by their own regime, Israelis oppressed by Iranians, Palestinians oppressed by Israelis). What is right or wrong? /3 110
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026Many Americans feel victimized by their current regime, but does this understanding of victimization extend to citizens in other countries, that Iranians living under a less democratic regime are necessarily more victimized and face higher possibility of unjust death. /2 110
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 13/03/2026In the Iran war, Americans recognize the current US regime as 'bad' for unilaterally starting a war, but why do some of them not recognize the oppressive Iranian regime as 'bad', and even try to legitimize it, to delegitimize US's attacks? Chanced upon this helpful study. /1 111
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 11/03/2026But I do not have an answer. What I know is, when we choose to insist on our human rights position and undoubtedly denying others, we are ourselves oppressors imposing our rights on others. And until we can be honest with ourselves, we cannot forge a new human rights pathway. 000
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 11/03/2026In this new world, we need to learn nuance, acknowledge different perspectives and realities, understand that while advocating for human rights means resisting power to some extent, the existence of authoritarian powers mean we cannot divorce them from our realities. 100
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 11/03/2026Perhaps another layer of the problem is social media which creates the illusion that we are living in the same world, where rights advocated in one society can be advocated in the same form in others, & where there's little room for nuance & where dominant views take precedence. 100
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 11/03/2026We had a window opportunity when authoritarianism was declining but it may perhaps be too late and we are reverting back to the world of the old. Yes, human rights are important, but can we advocate for it while understanding reality and respecting those in different realities? 100
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 11/03/2026Living in Taiwan, I've learnt that as long as there are authoritarian regimes, there's violence and there's war, and so, violence against one another is a reality. And we can be anti-war, but if we do not advocate the eradication of these regimes, war will never stop. 100
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 11/03/2026For if we are against war so that we can live in the illusion of peace, this is not about protecting human rights, but about ensuring our own comfort, while we close an eye to the suffering of others. Where is the daily protests for half of global peoples living under oppression? 100
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 11/03/2026Unless we can build an international framework that can ensure all authoritarian leaders are removed to protect peoples living in such regimes, & that their removal, if violent, is only given the go ahead under such a system, then the practice or human rights cannot be universal. 100
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 11/03/2026And so, when we advocate for human rights from our own reality, as if it applies to others living in more dangerous regimes, as if it's a one-size-fits-all, it's very selfish and narcisstic. And when you live in a big country, you are sheltered and become tone-deaf. It's reality. 100
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 11/03/2026Many people who live in democracies live in relative safety & don't know the insecurities of living in authoritarian regimes where you are defenseless against your government. For US citizens who have less fear of other powers, they may not understand feeling threatened by China. 100
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 11/03/2026When you live in relative comfort and safety, as I was in Singapore, war is wrong because thou shall not kill. But when China disregards international norms and threatens to kill Taiwanese, protecting yourself from killing means supporting greater power to threaten China. 100
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 11/03/2026When you live on a daily basis wondering when China may bomb you and what you should do when bombs come, and knowing that Taiwan on its own has little resistance against China, protecting your rights means allying with power that can challenge China i.e. the United States. 110
Roy Ngerng 鄞義林 @royngerng.bsky.social · 11/03/2026I used to live in the relative safety of Singapore. Now living in Taiwan and facing China's constant threat and being abandoned by international systems, I have developed a very different understanding of human rights. Akin to Ukraine, war is not a distant possibility. It's real. 100