u/AlternativeHat8964

Busiest I've ever seen it. Might be my favorite market in Taiwan.

I'll post some pictures later from the wild typhoon late July 2024, which is probably why the mayors were overreacting this time round. That said, we should have a few more big ones since it's an apocalypse el nino year.

Translation: Taiwan reunify with motherland Japan

Details from Gemini:

The organization shown in the image is the **Taiwan Civil Government (TCG / 台灣民政府)**, specifically a branch or faction operating under the core slogan **"Taiwan's Return to Motherland Japan" (台灣復歸母國日本)**.

## What is this Organization?

The Taiwan Civil Government is a political group founded in Taiwan in 2008. It operates on a highly specific—and controversial—interpretation of international law and post-WWII treaties (such as the San Francisco Peace Treaty).

### Core Beliefs & Ideology:

* **The "Motherland Japan" Claim:** They assert that because the Showa Emperor extended the Meiji Constitution to Taiwan in April 1945, Taiwan legally became an inseparable part of Japan's sovereign territory.

* **USMG & ROC Role:** They argue that the United States Military Government (USMG) is the rightful post-war occupying power of Taiwan, and that the current Republic of China (ROC) government is merely a "流亡政府" (government in exile) acting as a proxy occupier.

* **The Goal:** They aim to terminate the ROC's administration over Taiwan and follow the "Okinawa/Ryukyu model" to return Taiwan to Japanese sovereignty under the protection of the US-Japan Security Treaty.

## Who is Behind It?

The leadership and structure of the group have undergone significant shifts due to internal power struggles and legal controversies:

### 1. The Founders (Historical Leadership)

* **Roger C.S. Lin (林志昇):** The primary ideological founder and leader who established the group in 2008. He led high-profile public recruitment and even filed lawsuits against the U.S. government in Washington D.C. trying to validate the group's legal claims.

* **Julian T.A. Lin (林梓安):** Roger Lin's wife, who held significant administrative power alongside him.

* **The 2018 Scandal:** In 2018, both Roger and Julian Lin were arrested and prosecuted by Taiwanese authorities for fraud and money laundering, stemming from accusations that they were selling fake "TCG identity cards," car plates, and political training courses to followers under false pretenses. Roger Lin passed away in 2019 while the legal battles were ongoing.

### 2. Current Leadership (The "Return to Japan" Faction)

* **Tsai Tsai-yuan (蔡財源):** Following Roger Lin's death and the ensuing fracture over the group's finances, Tsai Tsai-yuan (the former Prime Minister of the group) led a major split in late 2019.

* He severed ties with Lin's faction, restructured the group, and took over as the **First Chief Executive (行政主席)** on January 1, 2020. Under his direction, the group explicitly pivoted toward the exact slogan seen on the building: **"Taiwan's Return to Motherland Japan,"** steering away from some of the founder's original theories and attempting to build formal ties with fringe right-wing elements in Japan.

> **Note:** The group is entirely unrecognized by the governments of Taiwan, the United States, and Japan. Taiwanese authorities and the broader public generally view the group's legal assertions as legally invalid, with its operations frequently heavily scrutinized or dismissed as a fraudulent operation.

**So basically an MLM/cult with a political spin. You can find their official website if your search for "Taiwan civil government"

Few days a year, heavy rains and industrial stoppages clear the air in Kaohsiung and you can see the massive Taiwu mountains in the background. Wish we get it more often.

Don't know where else to put this. Connection came to my mind with recent news about newest Trump aide that looks oddly like Ivanka. Sorry about AI slop. Any designers feel free to make it better.

Just want to give some love to these windswept rocks with a bunch of cacti, military bases, and possibly the best beaches in Taiwan.

Hadn't named it, but I figure Jeb is a good name.

Had him about a month. Found him when I dropped some sweet potato leaves into a pan. Heard a clink. Gave me quite a spook. Threw him into the compost pile but saw him crawling out so decided to keep him.

Kept Jeb in a plastic nut container with some cardboard for shelter. Every couple days, I fed him pieces of fruit and leaves of either sweet potato or amaranth. Rarely saw him move around or eat since he does that in the dark. But everyday he's in a different spot with coils of poop everywhere. Seemed healthy except one time I saw him puke some brown stuff out and then slurp it back up. Might have been drunk from fermented wax apples.

Starting researching into snail care and was working towards soil and the cuttlebone but didn't quite make it. Took this video few days ago after checking his shelter and adding some daikon skins and top. It was really neat seeing him zoom around the box.

Alas that was the last time. Next day, saw the shell upturned with and bubbles coming out. Cleaned it up and put some fresh fruit in there. Checked again day later. Jeb would move no more.

Maybe the daikon was too spicy? Maybe there was pesticide residue on it. No clue. I did the final check. Poked the foot, no response. Smelled him, fishy.

Goodbye Jeb. It was a wonderous month having you on my desk. I've left his shell by some wax apple sprouts in front of the house. RIP buddy.

Obviously not everyone, but like a lot of pepo