Taiwan sees MeToo wave of allegations after Netflix show

Taiwan is being rocked by a wave of sexual harassment and assault allegations – sparked by a Netflix show which many say has ignited a local MeToo movement.

More than 90 people have spoken out in the past fortnight, accusing people across the island.

The allegations at first centred on politics and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – where several senior officials have resigned.

But they have spread across Taiwanese society, with allegations being made against doctors, professors, sporting umpires and YouTubers.

On Saturday, a Polish diplomat was accused of sexual assault by a think tank researcher.

For many women, the moment is long overdue in a Taiwanese society otherwise praised globally for its progressive politics and commitment to gender equality.

President Tsai Ing-wen, the island’s first female leader, has apologised and vowed reform.

“Previously we had single cases around sexual harassment, but never in such magnitude,” social commentator Dr Liu Wen from Taiwan’s Sinica Academia told the BBC.

“It’s the first time a lot of the underlying issues in different industries are being revealed all at the same time.”

One woman in her 30s told the BBC she had felt the momentum to seek justice again after she was sexually harassed by her boss, a celebrated environmental activist.

When Ms Tseng, as she wishes to be known, first sought redress last year, she said she was stone-walled and rebuffed.

But when she spoke out online last week, she received an apology from the workplace and the activist. He also resigned, saying he was sorry for some of his conduct. Meanwhile her inbox filled up with messages from other women relaying their own complaints about him.