Tongzhi Diplomacy and the Queer Case of Taiwan

In spite of facing intense pressure and international isolation from China, Taiwan has developed a reputation as one of the most democratic and liberal states in Asia. The legalisation of same-sex marriage in May 2019 signals the progress of human rights in Taiwan and resulted in unprecedented positive international attention towards the country’s marriage equality movement. Since then, LGBT rights have played an increasingly central role in Taiwan’s international public diplomacy. This chapter makes the case that through ‘queer’ or ‘Tongzhi Diplomacy,’ Taiwan is focusing on increasing its international visibility as a liberal and sovereign democracy and reinforcing its image as ‘the beacon of human rights in Asia.’ This in turn has contributed to the country’s efforts to broaden its international space. The chapter also explores how Taiwan’s Tongzhi Diplomacy differs from Western models of LGBT rights diplomacy, as well as examining its development over the past two decades. Using ‘Hotline’ as a case study, the chapter examines how Taiwan’s Tongzhi Diplomacy is the product of the dynamic relationship between civil society and the state