On December 10, 1979, a significant political event took place in Taiwan. Since December 10 is International Human Rights Day, opposition figures organized a rally and speeches in Kaohsiung, advocating for democracy, freedom, and the end of martial law and party restrictions. However, unidentified individuals infiltrated the crowd, inciting chaos and provocation, which led to riot police surrounding the demonstrators and ultimately triggering violent clashes between the police and civilians.
Because this political conflict occurred in Kaohsiung and was led by members of the Formosa Magazine, the media referred to it as the "Kaohsiung Incident" or the "Formosa Incident." This event had a profound impact on Taiwan’s political landscape, prompting the general public to take a greater interest in political affairs.
At the time, Chiang Ching-kuo had just assumed the presidency of the Republic of China and enjoyed strong public support. However, with martial law still in place and the National Assembly representatives remaining unelected for decades, his efforts to implement reforms and appoint more native Taiwanese officials could not immediately resolve the political tensions. Violent clashes between the ruling party and the opposition continued until the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was officially established in 1986.
In 1987, the Taiwanese government announced the lifting of martial law, signaling a loosening of political restrictions. However, since parliamentary reforms had yet to be fully implemented, the DPP and overseas dissidents continued to push for immediate action from the ruling Kuomintang government. As a result, protests, demonstrations, and mass gatherings persisted, occasionally leading to minor disturbances and conflicts, creating a tense atmosphere in society.
就在一九七九年十二月十日，台灣發生了一件重大的政治事件。因為十二月十日是國際人權日，黨外人士在高雄組織群眾進行遊行及演講，訴求民主與自由，終結黨禁及戒嚴。由於一些不明人士混入群眾造混亂及進行挑釁，導致鎮暴部隊包圍，最後引爆了警民衝突。
由於這次的政治衝突事件是發生在高雄，由美麗島雜誌社人士主導，故報界稱之為「高雄事件」或「美麗島事件」。此事件對台灣往後的政局發展有著重大的影響，台灣居民也開始關心台灣政治事件。
這時蔣經國初任中華民國總統，在民間有很好的聲望，但由於仍處戒嚴時期及國民大會代表一直沒有改選等問題，雖然有心改革及選用台籍人才，但遠水救不了近火，朝野政治暴力衝突不斷，直至一九八六年民進黨宣佈成立。
台灣政府在一九八七年宣佈解嚴，政治氣氛看似鬆綁，但因國會改選仍未落實，民進黨及海外異議人士則更進一步要求國民黨政府立即有所作為，所以還是會有遊行示威及聚眾演講，難免有時會發生少許失序及衝突事件，而在社會上造成一些不安的氛圍。
