Taipei: Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday clarified that forming political parties or student groups advocating communism is not illegal, following reports of a “communist party” established at one of the nation’s top senior high schools. MAC deputy head and spokesperson, Liang Wen-chieh, addressed this at a regular news briefing in Taipei, emphasizing that although Article 2 of Taiwan’s Civil Associations Act once prohibited advocating communism, this provision was deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court in 2008.

According to Focus Taiwan, individuals can now register a political party with the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) under the name “Communist Party.” Currently, five parties, including the Taiwan Communist Party and the Communist Party of the Republic of China, have registered under this name, although some have since self-disbanded.

Liang further remarked that the interest of young people in forming groups based on Utopian ideals, such as communism, is not viewed from a legal standpoint. He suggested that the Ministry of Education and local education departments should explore this interest instead.

The remarks came after a report by the Liberty Times about the “Chien Kuo Communist Party” (CKCP), a student group at Taipei Municipal Chien Kuo Senior High School. The CKCP reportedly formed the “Taiwan Interschool Communist Alliance,” with similar groups existing in up to 39 schools, including New Taipei Municipal Banqiao Senior High School.

The CKCP’s Instagram fan page indicates the group aims to promote communist governance at Chien Kuo through democratic means and rapid reforms while spreading correct communist ideas. The group has explicitly stated it has no connection with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

As of Thursday afternoon, the CKCP’s Instagram page featured seven posts, including a recent post by the general secretary, identified as “Farmertree8,” who emphasized the group’s opposition to the CCP and its actions against Taiwan. The general secretary, a graduating student from Class 327 at Chien Kuo, described the CKCP as “dead,” noting dwindling membership and highlighting that the “Taiwan Interschool Communist Alliance” also struggled due to a lack of active participants.

Liang concluded by commenting on young people’s fascination with communism, attributing it to its humanitarian and Utopian ideals. However, he stressed that the theory and reality of communism are vastly different, urging young people to learn about the history of the CCP and the international communist movement, to understand the disparity between the ideals and the reality of communist rule.