Pro-Palestine Activists in Taiwan Protest Evergreen's Steel Shipment to Israel

Pro-Palestinian activists protest outside the offices of Taiwanese shipping firm Evergreen for sending military-grade steel to Israel.

Transcript

00:00The Gaza war is unfolding over 8,000 kilometers away from here in downtown Taipei.

00:04But a group of protesters say that Taiwan has its own, possibly deadly, role to play in the conflict.

00:09And they want to stop to it now.

00:15These activists represent several civic groups that are concerned about the human rights situation in Gaza.

00:21They've gathered to protest outside the offices of shipping giant Evergreen,

00:25the operator of a ship bound for Israel with military-grade steel.

00:28They're unsure of the exact tonnage, but they say the EverGolden is just days from its destination,

00:34and its cargo could soon be turned into weapons, pointed at people in Gaza.

00:38It's part of what they say is a broader involvement of Taiwanese companies in Israel's war against Hamas.

00:58Evergreen has told Taiwan Plus it has no role in the sale or final use of the goods it carries,

01:07and that it will continue reviews to make sure it meets all legal and social responsibilities.

01:12And stopping this shipment could be complicated.

01:14The ship's owner may be Taiwanese, but it flies the Panamanian flag, and its owner is based in Japan.

01:19Still, the protesters say the shipment violates international law,

01:24and so Taiwan has to do something, whether the country is a UN member or not.

01:28The ship is fast approaching the eastern Mediterranean,

01:31but pro-Palestinian activists say they won't let it pressure on its owner until it changes course.

01:36Scott Huang and John Van Trieste in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.

01:40Scott Huang and John Van Trieste in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.