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Learning from Taiwan
From the simple, nostalgic sounds of the garbage trucks in Taiwan, to the advancement of Taiwan studies in the academic world, Taiwan has proven time and time again that it can serve as a learning base and example for the global stage, spearheading in efforts of conservation, sustainability, and beyond. We want to dedicate the showcase of these lessons here, where every UC quarter, we want to highlight the significant research or happenings within our center to showcase that we all can truly learn from Taiwan.
2025
Taiwan’s “Shovel Superman” Movement
Photo credit: Central News Agency (中央通訊社)
The term "Shovel Superman" (鏟子超人 in Traditional Chinese) has emerged to describe the mass of volunteers — ordinary citizens carrying shovels, buckets, rain boots, etc. — who flocked to Hualien’s Guangfu (花蓮縣光復鄉) area to help clean up after the Mat’a’an (馬太鞍) Creek disaster.
On September 23, heavy rains caused the Mat’a’an Creek to overflow, leading to a devastating flood and accumulation of thick mud in Guangfu, Hualien. Rather than await formal government mobilization, tens of thousands of volunteers (some media report 30,000 on day one) spontaneously self-organized and came to the disaster zone. These “Shovel Supermen” worked without a centralized command: no formal orders, no hierarchy — people simply saw the need and came to help. Some people arrived with shovels; others came empty-handed but were equipped once they got there — local charitable groups provided tools.
Over time, the role of the “Shovel Supermen” evolved: after the initial clean-up, the nature of needs shifted (e.g., from bulk mud clearing to more technical work). According to reporting, by the mid-phase many of the general volunteer tasks had been completed. There were also “superhero” archetypes beyond just shovel-carriers — for example, "Appliance Supermen" (家電超人 in Traditional Chinese) delivering donated appliances to affected households.
The movement appears to be entirely grassroots: there is no single “owner” or command structure. Volunteers self-mobilized; social media played a key role in coordination. The phenomenon has resonated deeply across Taiwanese society. Many commentators call the Shovel Supermen the “most beautiful scenery” in Taiwan — a powerful expression of volunteerism, altruism, and community self-organization. The movement has drawn coverage both domestically and abroad. For instance, The Guardian (UK) reported on the tens of thousands of people arriving to help — emphasizing that this was not a top-down, government-led operation.
Yet not all voices are uncritically supportive. Former officials and experts have warned about the risks of poorly coordinated volunteerism: some volunteers fell ill, others were injured; there are concerns about sanitation, infection, lack of professional training. Commentators also argue that while the movement’s energy is inspiring, relying on sporadic volunteer waves alone is not a sustainable disaster-response model. Some suggest Taiwan needs a more institutionalized system that bridges spontaneous volunteerism and professional disaster-management.
The Shovel Superman movement has become a symbol of Taiwanese civic values — solidarity, volunteerism, and self-organized community support. This positive image can strengthen Taiwan’s soft power on the global stage when covered by international media. Some analysts are already drawing comparisons with how other societies respond to disaster.
The fact that so many people mobilized without waiting for government orders could be framed as a strength of Taiwan’s civil society — a narrative that bolsters Taiwan’s international standing as democratic, resilient, and socially cohesive. From a geopolitical perspective, this grassroots movement may implicitly send a message about Taiwan’s governance capacity and social cohesion. If projected internationally, it could influence perceptions of Taiwan as a society capable of self-organization and strong community bonds and can become part of its diplomatic toolkit: when advocating for international support, or when engaging with foreign partners, Taiwan might highlight these civic achievements as evidence of its maturity, resilience, and model for participatory disaster response.
The Shovel Superman phenomenon is more than a volunteer surge — it’s a powerful civic movement. Its emergence reflects deep social solidarity, it draws international attention, and it could carry symbolic weight in how Taiwan presents itself globally and to cross-Strait observers.
－ Reference (in Traditional Chinese): Wikipedia / 緯來新聞網 / 太報 / 知新聞 / 聯合報
A Miraculous Journey: Thirty Years of Taiwan's National Health Insurance
In 1995, Taiwan launched National Health Insurance (NHI) five years ahead of schedule, transforming the long-standing problem of “illness-induced poverty.” This milestone gained Taiwan international recognition.
By 2025, as NHI reaches its 30th year, rising medical costs and a super-aging society have made its long-term sustainability a major public health concern. In response, the Taiwan Studies Foundation and the Taipei School of Political Science Foundation produced the documentary The Journey of Creating a Miracle to objectively present NHI’s three-decade development and support informed discussion.
A nine-member planning committee—led by former Control Yuan member Huang Huang-hsiung and including founding NHI officials, public health scholars, and senior medical leaders—oversaw the year-long production. The script was extensively verified, drawing on consultations with 82 experts.
Funded independently with support from the Pau Jar Charity Foundation, the film is Huang’s latest work since his 2011 comprehensive NHI review. It revisits past challenges, assesses what has been resolved, and explores new problems that have emerged.
Structured into five chapters, the documentary traces NHI’s origins, early struggles, expansion, major challenges, and paths toward sustainability. It features interviews with successive health ministers and NHI leaders, who reveal behind-the-scenes stories of critical policy decisions such as crisis management, premium adjustments, and major system reforms, including cooperation with the UK’s NICE.
The film also includes perspectives from prominent medical professionals across Taiwan, capturing voices from major medical centers to regional hospitals. With support from over a hundred contributors, the 53-minute documentary offers a comprehensive look at NHI’s past and future.