In a move that’s stirring debate across the island, Taiwan authorities led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have quietly reclassified the Han ethnic group—long recognized as the majority—under a catchall “others” category in their latest demographic update.
The new breakdown on the executive branch’s website lists 2.6 percent indigenous residents, 1.2 percent immigrants, and a whopping 96.2 percent as "others." That shift effectively erases the century-old recognition of Han people, including those of Minnan descent tracing roots to the south of Fujian Province on the Chinese mainland.
Critics see it as a politically charged bid to sever cultural and historical ties with the Chinese mainland. "This is blatant distortion of objective data," warns Chi Chia-lin, chief of a Taiwan history research association. He argues the revision betrays the island’s history and ancestry.
Chen Ching-hui of the Kuomintang accuses the DPP of waging "cognitive warfare," pointing out that standard statistical practice lists majority groups first, followed by "others." Online reactions range from outrage to satire, with one user quipping, "We are the others now, and soon we will be the spares."
This demographic revamp follows a series of DPP-led efforts to downplay Chinese cultural heritage in school curricula and public life, sparking fresh debates on identity, diversity, and the island’s place in a broader regional history.
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Taiwan's DPP faces criticism for rebranding local ethnic Han people
cgtn.com
