The Feb 28th Blackout: Taiwan’s Tumultuous Turn
Man, February 28th, 1996, was crazy! Taiwan went nuts. A nationwide protest, they called it the “Blackout.” It was all about the presidential elections. The KMT, they were clinging to power, you know? Direct elections? A total threat to their grip. This article? It’s gonna be a deep dive. Background, causes, the whole shebang. Plus, the impact on Taiwan’s democracy. It was intense.
A Nation on Edge, Kinda
The 90s, Taiwan’s economy was booming! Global integration, the works. But the KMT, they’d been in charge since ’49. The DPP, they were gaining ground. Democrazy and independence, that was their thing. It was a tense situation, man. Really tense.
The Spark: Elections!
The main cause? Direct presidential elections. The KMT, they were freaking out. A DPP win? Unthinkable! They’d held onto power for ages. This was a huge deal. A real turning point.
Key Events: Chaos Ensued
Feb 28th: Elections announced! Protests erupted! March 1st: The KMT called a blackout! Businesses shut down. Total chaos. March 2nd-3rd: More protests! Thousands in the streets! March 4th: The government wouldn’t budge. The protests continued. It was a mess.
Consequences: Ouch!
The blackout? It wrecked the economy. Businesses suffered. The KMT’s response? Brutal. Tear gas, batons… Human rights violations, man. It was ugly. Really ugly.
International Reaction: Not Cool
The world condemned the KMT. The US, the EU, Japan… everyone was like, “Whoa, that’s not cool.” They demanded an end to the violence. It was a global issue.
Aftermath: A New Era?
Lee Teng-hui won! The DPP! The KMT’s dominance was over. Finally! The 2000 election sealed the deal. The Blackout? It changed everything. A huge turning point.
New Developments: Still Going
2020? More protests! KMT corruption scandals. 2022? Tsai Ing-wen won! The DPP again! The Blackout’s legacy? It’s still felt today. It was a pivotal moment. A real turning point. Democracy prevailed, eventually. But it was a fight.
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