Generation Z Protests

In recent months, across countries including Nepal, Madagascar, Morocco, Peru and Indonesia, Generation Z is leading protests against their respective governments.

In Madagascar, frequent electricity and water shortages, led young activists to demand the resignation of former President Andry Rajoelina in protests spanning from Sept. 25 to Oct. 14. Rajoelina’s reign was toppled by the youth-led military coup on Oct. 14, and he was then stripped of his citizenship. Colonel Michael Randrianirina became President on Oct. 17, replacing Rajoelina. However, on Oct. 20, Randrianirina appointed businessman Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo as prime minister, a decision that was met with public backlash from Madagascar’s Generation Z protest movement who “expressed worry at a decision they said was made without dialogue,” according to Africanews,

In Peru, years of political instability, rising crime and frequent presidential impeachments prompted several protests in October where most involved were under the age of 28. The protestors expressed that they felt unprotected by their government. On Oct. 10, Jose Jeri, former leader of Peru’s legislative body, replaced President Dina Boluarte as President of Peru because of the latter’s impeachment for her inability to curb the nation’s crime rates. The Peruvian protests are still ongoing, as Generation Z activists call for Jeri’s removal because of accusations of sexual assault. On Oct. 16, a demonstration by Generation Z protestors led to one death and 100 injuries. Jeri refused to resign.

Other protests aimed to resist corruption and condemn the political elite. In the Indonesian protests that began in August, “thousands [demonstrated] outside parliament against a housing allowances for [Members of Parliament] that was nearly 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta,” according to The Guardian.

The Moroccan government’s decision to direct $5 billion toward its construction of the soccer stadium for the 2030 World Cup has sparked outrage, as many believe those funds should be directed towards accessible public healthcare, free education, affordable housing, higher wages and “better” public transport, according to BBC News. Moroccan protestors called for the removal of their prime minister, Aziz Akhannouch, throughout September and October, but have not succeeded.

Social media and the digital world played an important role in many of these protests. Gen Z Madagascar, the group that toppled former Madagascar President Rajoelina, is a leaderless organization formed online. Similarly, Morocco’s GenZ 212 emerged as a leaderless group founded on Discord on Sept. 18, according to Middle East Eye.

In Nepal, politicians’ children posted themselves living luxurious lifestyles on social media. This angered the working class of Nepal, where “every day, some two thousand men and women leave to look for livelihoods elsewhere,” according to the New Yorker. When 26 social media platforms were banned in Nepal on Sept. 4, its Generation Z population revolted. After quickly overthrowing the government in a matter of days, Nepal reestablished leadership by electing their first female prime minister, Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki on the online communication platform Discord on Sept. 12.

Throughout the protests, many posters and symbols referenced Generation Z global pop culture. One prime example was the use of the Jolly Roger flag from the Japanese anime One Piece to symbolize liberation from oppressive governments. The use of this flag originally gained popularity during the Indonesian protests in August and September, but it was later seen plastered onto palace gates in Nepal and raised above crowds of protestors in Madagascar.

Although these protests are disparate in both geographical location and primary motive, many notice a domino effect, with each protest fueling the next. According to The New York Times, “in Nepal, the protesters talked about drawing inspiration from protests in Indonesia,” and “in Madagascar … the protesters drew inspiration from Nepal.”

China’s Alleged Takeover of Taiwan

Over the past few months, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) made increased efforts to bring the self-governing island of Taiwan under its control. On Oct. 25, Beijing announced a new national holiday, the “Commemoration Day of Taiwan’s Restoration.” 

“Establishing Taiwan Restoration Day and holding commemorative activities at the national level will help highlight the indisputable historical fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China,” Shen Chunyao, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, said in an Associated Press article.

From China’s perspective, the creation of this new holiday, commemorating the 1945 transfer of Taiwan, originally from Japan to the Republic of China, represents the event as proof of China’s rightful claim to the territory. However, Taiwan rejects these claims and instead insists that the future will be decided by the people. The Taiwanese government is cracking down on individuals holding Chinese identity documents by expelling them from Taiwan in an effort to counteract the supposed propaganda and infiltration of China. In Taiwan, it is illegal to hold any Chinese identity documents. 

In recent months, China’s military stance against Taiwan has remained offensive with frequent naval and air drills, simulated blockades or attack operations and reported crossing of the Taiwan Strait. China’s drills are “severe warning and forceful containment against the separatist forces of ‘Taiwan independence,’” according to Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a People’s Liberation Army spokesperson in charge of operations around Taiwan.

Some Taiwanese citizens view China’s growing military drills not only as provocation but also as a rehearsal for an increasingly plausible takeover.

“It’s not just a drill,” Huang Chung-ting, an associate research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei, said in The Washington Post. “To be concrete about the threat these Chinese exercises pose to Taiwan, we should call it a pre-invasion operation.’’

This international affair impacts not just for Taiwan and China, but globally. The United States, despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations, is Taiwan’s principal military backer as China’s proposed plan threatens the U.S. security and global supply chains, such as technology. 

“If Taiwan were to be taken over by China by force, it would trigger a domino effect, undermine the regional balance of power, and directly threaten the security and prosperity of the United States,” Chiu Chui-cheng, the cabinet-ranked head of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, said.

Updates over the coming months could be critical in determining whether a peaceful resolution unfolds or whether the Asia-Pacific order of power will shift, leading to further impacts on a global scale.  

Japan Elects First Female Prime Minister 

Sanae Takaichi of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was elected as Japan’s new prime minister on Oct. 21, making her the first female prime minister of Japan. 

Takaichi possesses years of experience in Japanese politics. In 1993, she was elected to Parliament representing Nara, the city she grew up in. In Parliament, she focused on political reform. For example, she created an economic security system to trace foreign and unknown expenses, had tax reforms and addressed inflation by creating a system of grants.

Since 2006, she has served as a government minister, overseeing the economic and immigration security of Japan. After this, she took on the role of the Minister of Affairs and Communications, where she faced controversy for shutting down news broadcasts deemed politically biased. Taikichi was also responsible for public funds regarding COVID-19 during periods of outbreak. 

She was elected after Japan faced political instability, corruption and economic complications under the LDP, which Takaichi has served since 1996. Because of Takaichi’s experience handling economic unrest, especially with the inflation Japan has experienced, she entered the election with an economic-based approach. Her approach was focused on trying to reverse inflation by establishing proper government spending; which was done by putting funding in place of need-based spaces like hospitals and care facilities. Furthermore, she lowered tax on gasoline and household income.

Takaichi had the majority vote over her opponent, Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP). The voting process took one day. Japan’s main party is the CDP, making Takaichi’s win a surprise. 

Takaichi’s views lean far-right and conservative, as she opposes ideas like same sex marriage, abortion access, immigration and gender equality. Her views have faced disagreement, especially on Oct. 28, when Takaichi participated in a broadcast meeting with President Donald Trump to discuss current events. This resulted in protests in Tokyo last Monday. 

Takaichi’s win was historic, as Japan has not yet seen a female prime minister. However, Takaichi’s ideas are beginning to challenge the previous progressive ideologies of Japan as a country, leaving some citizens in question.