Taiwan has faced renewed international scrutiny following its first execution in nearly five years, as human rights groups condemn the move as a significant setback. The execution took place late on January 16, with 32-year-old Huang Lin-kai, convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend and her mother in 2017, being put to death by shooting.

The Justice Ministry described the crimes as “extremely vicious” and stated that Huang's actions warranted the ultimate punishment, as reported by AFP.

Despite Taiwan’s evolution into one of Asia’s most progressive democracies, public opinion remains divided on capital punishment. Surveys indicate that the majority of Taiwanese people still support the death penalty, a stark contrast to the island’s political shift towards more liberal policies in recent years. Since a moratorium on capital punishment was lifted in 2010, Taiwan has carried out 36 executions, with the latest marking the first under President Lai Ching-te, who assumed office in May 2024.

The execution has drawn sharp criticism from global rights groups. Amnesty International Taiwan condemned the move as a “shocking and cruel development,” with Director E-Ling Chiu accusing the government of undermining years of progress toward the abolition of the death penalty. The European Union also expressed its disapproval, urging Taiwan to maintain a de-facto moratorium and work towards the complete abolition of capital punishment.

This execution comes just months after Taiwan’s Constitutional Court ruled in September that capital punishment should be “limited to special and exceptional circumstances.” However, the ruling did not mandate an immediate halt to executions, and opposition parties such as the Kuomintang have used the case to argue against the court’s decision, calling for the execution of the 36 remaining death row inmates.

The ongoing debate in Taiwan highlights the tension between human rights concerns and the strong public support for capital punishment, a topic that continues to divide the island's politics and society.