Milk Tea Alliance

{{Infobox Chinese

| title = Milk Tea Alliance

| pic = Milk Tea Alliance Flag.svg

| piccap = The "Milk Tea Alliance" flag created by netizens. The colours represent (from left) Thai milk tea, Hong Kong milk tea and Taiwanese milk tea.{{cite news | url=https://www.thestandnews.com/international/%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%BF%A1%E9%9D%A0%E5%A5%B6%E8%8C%B6-%E6%B3%B0%E5%B9%BD%E9%BB%98-%E6%93%8A%E9%80%80-%E5%B0%8F%E7%B2%89%E7%B4%85-%E6%B3%B0%E6%B8%AF%E5%8F%B0%E4%B8%89%E5%9C%B0%E7%B6%B2%E6%B0%91%E7%B1%B2%E7%B5%84-%E5%A5%B6%E8%8C%B6%E8%81%AF%E7%9B%9F-%E9%BD%8A%E6%8A%97%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E7%B6%B2%E8%BB%8D/ | title=【我們信靠奶茶】「泰幽默」擊退「小粉紅」泰港台三地網民籲組「奶茶聯盟」齊抗中國網軍 | publisher=立場新聞 | date=16 April 2020 | access-date=13 September 2020 | archive-date=20 August 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820135638/https://www.thestandnews.com/international/%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%BF%A1%E9%9D%A0%E5%A5%B6%E8%8C%B6-%E6%B3%B0%E5%B9%BD%E9%BB%98-%E6%93%8A%E9%80%80-%E5%B0%8F%E7%B2%89%E7%B4%85-%E6%B3%B0%E6%B8%AF%E5%8F%B0%E4%B8%89%E5%9C%B0%E7%B6%B2%E6%B0%91%E7%B1%B2%E7%B5%84-%E5%A5%B6%E8%8C%B6%E8%81%AF%E7%9B%9F-%E9%BD%8A%E6%8A%97%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E7%B6%B2%E8%BB%8D/ }}

| picsize =

| pictooltip = The "Milk Tea Alliance" flag created by netizens. The colours represent (from left) Thai milk tea, Hong Kong milk tea and Taiwanese milk tea.

| headercolor =

| t = 奶茶聯盟

| s = 奶茶联盟

| l =

| w = nai-chʻa lien-meng

| p = nǎichá liánméng

| bpmf = ㄋㄞˇ ㄔㄚˊ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄥˊ

| y = náaihchàh lyùhnmàhng

| j = naai5caa4 lyun4mang4

| h =

| phfs =

| poj = ni-tê liân-bêng

| my = နို့လက်ဖက်ရည်မဟာမိတ်
Nhoet Laathpatrai Maharmate

| tha = พันธมิตรชานม

| rtgs = Phanthamit Cha Nom
Phạnṭhmitr chā nm

}}

The Milk Tea Alliance is a democracy and human rights movement consisting of netizens from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and Myanmar (Burma).{{cite news |last1=Tanakasempipat |first1=Patpicha |title=Young Thais join 'Milk Tea Alliance' in online backlash that angers Beijing |url=https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN21X1ZT?__twitter_impression=true |website=mobile.reuters.com |agency=Reuters |access-date=18 April 2020 |archive-date=23 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823125410/https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN21X1ZT?__twitter_impression=true |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Bunyavejchewin |first1=Poowin |title=Will the 'Milk Tea War' Have a Lasting Impact on China-Thailand Relations? |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/will-the-milk-tea-war-have-a-lasting-impact-on-china-thailand-relations/ |website=thediplomat.com |publisher=The Diplomat |access-date=4 May 2020 |archive-date=3 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503162509/https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/will-the-milk-tea-war-have-a-lasting-impact-on-china-thailand-relations/ |url-status=live }} It originally started as an internet meme, created in response to the increased presence of Chinese nationalist commentators on social media{{cite web |last1=McDevitt |first1=Dan |title='In Milk Tea We Trust': How a Thai-Chinese Meme War Led to a New (Online) Pan-Asia Alliance |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/in-milk-tea-we-trust-how-a-thai-chinese-meme-war-led-to-a-new-online-pan-asia-alliance/ |website=thediplomat.com |publisher=The Diplomat |access-date=18 April 2020 |archive-date=18 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418213214/https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/in-milk-tea-we-trust-how-a-thai-chinese-meme-war-led-to-a-new-online-pan-asia-alliance/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Lau |first1=Jessie |title=Why the Taiwanese are thinking more about their identity |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/international/places/2020/05/taiwanese-independence-taiwan-china-beijing-identity-hong-kong |website=www.newstatesman.com |date=15 May 2020 |publisher=New Statesman |access-date=15 May 2020 |archive-date=21 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521210800/https://www.newstatesman.com/international/places/2020/05/taiwanese-independence-taiwan-china-beijing-identity-hong-kong |url-status=live }} and has evolved into a dynamic multinational protest movement against authoritarianism and advocating democracy. Aside from the four countries mentioned above, the movement has also established a significant presence in the Philippines, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Belarus and Iran.{{cite news|title='Milk Tea Alliance' pushes for democracy vs China's authoritarianism|language=en|work=ABS-CBN News|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/04/14/21/milk-tea-alliance-pushes-for-democracy-vs-chinas-authoritarianism|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-date=10 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410170641/https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/04/14/21/milk-tea-alliance-pushes-for-democracy-vs-chinas-authoritarianism|url-status=live}}

The Diplomat describes the Milk Tea Alliance, despite it not being institutionalised, as a pro-democracy alternative to ASEAN. In Myanmar's case especially, The Diplomat considers it to be "a central force in shaping the way Myanmar's youth understand the current battle between pro-democracy protesters and their vastly better armed opponents, a predicament faced by other youth in neighboring countries."{{cite web |last1=Chia |first1=Jasmine |last2=Singer |first2=Scott |title=How the Milk Tea Alliance Is Remaking Myanmar |url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/how-the-milk-tea-alliance-is-remaking-myanmar/ |access-date=25 July 2021 |website=thediplomat.com |publisher=The Diplomat |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416123530/https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/how-the-milk-tea-alliance-is-remaking-myanmar/ |url-status=live }}

Name

Milk tea is a popular drink in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand, the original three countries and territories included in the movement. Netizens from Myanmar and India who later joined also share their own variations of tea with milk.{{Cite news|date=24 March 2021|title=What is the Milk Tea Alliance?|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/03/24/what-is-the-milk-tea-alliance|access-date=9 April 2021|issn=0013-0613|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416123530/https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/03/24/what-is-the-milk-tea-alliance|url-status=live}}{{Dubious|Milk and Chinese tea|date=April 2021}} Taiwanese bubble tea, Hong Kong-style milk tea, Thai tea and Burmese milk tea are all local variations of milk tea with strong similarities.

History

{{See also|Chinese nationalism|Wolf warrior diplomacy}}{{external media|width=200px|image1=[https://www.facebook.com/milktealogy/photos/a.285670224923900/1565079146982995 Milk Tea Alliance memes published by "奶茶通俗學 Milktealogy" Facebook]}}

= Origin =

In 2020, a Thai actor Vachirawit Chivaaree, also known as Bright, inadvertently reposted an image on Twitter which listed Hong Kong as a "country" (Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China). His post led to negative reactions from Chinese netizens, who attacked him. Vachirawit later apologised for his oversight and removed the image. Thai netizens took to social media and defended Vachirawit with their criticism turning into more generalised criticism of China, launching a Twitter war.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-26 |title=Young Thais join 'Milk Tea Alliance' in online backlash that angers Beijing |website=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-china-internet-idUSKCN21X1ZT |access-date=2023-07-03 |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026190335/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-china-internet-idUSKCN21X1ZT |url-status=bot: unknown }} Vachirawit's girlfriend also came under spotlight for perceived support of Taiwanese independence.{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Heather |date=2020-08-18 |title=Milk Tea Alliance: How A Meme Brought Activists From Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand Together |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3zkzb/milk-tea-alliance-how-a-meme-brought-activists-from-taiwan-hong-kong-and-thailand-together |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Vice|language=en |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416123530/https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3zkzb/milk-tea-alliance-how-a-meme-brought-activists-from-taiwan-hong-kong-and-thailand-together |url-status=live }} On June 25, 2020, GMM Grammy, the parent company of GMMTV, where he is a talent, sent lawyers to the Technology Crime Unit to file lawsuits against social media users accused of spreading malicious messages about him.{{Cite web |url=https://dzrhnews.com.ph/gmm-files-reports-vs-fans-spreading-malicious-comments-against-their-artists |title=GMM files reports vs fans spreading malicious comments against their artists |access-date=29 June 2023 |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711040430/https://dzrhnews.com.ph/gmm-files-reports-vs-fans-spreading-malicious-comments-against-their-artists/ |url-status=dead }}

Chinese netizens launched attacks targeting various aspects of Thailand, including Thai King Vajiralongkorn and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, though much of this failed to have the intended effect as the Thai netizens were generally already critical of their own country and government, with some even encouraging the insults.{{cite web |last1=Chan |first1=Christina |title=Milk is thicker than blood: An unlikely digital alliance between Thailand, Hong Kong & Taiwan |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2020/05/02/milk-is-thicker-than-blood-an-unlikely-digital-alliance-between-thailand-hong-kong-taiwan/ |website=hongkongfp.com |date=2 May 2020 |publisher=Hong Kong Free Press |access-date=18 August 2020 |archive-date=14 September 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200914224617/https://hongkongfp.com/2020/05/02/milk-is-thicker-than-blood-an-unlikely-digital-alliance-between-thailand-hong-kong-taiwan/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|last=Teixeira|first=Lauren|title=Thais Show How to Beat China's Online Army|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/17/nnevvy-bright-firewall-thailand-china-online-army/|access-date=10 February 2021|website=Foreign Policy|date=17 April 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=15 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415031311/https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/17/nnevvy-bright-firewall-thailand-china-online-army/|url-status=live}} The Chinese embassy in Bangkok posted a long statement on Facebook condemning the online criticism and a fierce digital battle ensued between Thai netizens and the Chinese embassy.

Within Thailand, support for Hong Kong and Taiwan's struggle against Chinese encroachment has unified the disparate groups of pro-democracy protesters with anti-Beijing sentiment becoming a part of their anti-authoritarian platform.{{cite magazine |last1=Barron |first1=Laignee |title='We Share the Ideals of Democracy.' How the Milk Tea Alliance Is Brewing Solidarity Among Activists in Asia and Beyond |url=https://time.com/5904114/milk-tea-alliance/ |magazine=Time |date=28 October 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020 |archive-date=12 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212201930/https://time.com/5904114/milk-tea-alliance/ |url-status=live }} Twitter users in Taiwan and Hong Kong soon joined Thai users in what The Telegraph called "a rare moment of regional solidarity".{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Nicola |title=#MilkTeaAlliance: New Asian youth movement battles Chinese trolls |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/03/milkteaalliance-new-asian-youth-movement-battles-chinese-trolls/ |work=The Telegraph |date=3 May 2020 |access-date=18 August 2020 |archive-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702050917/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/03/milkteaalliance-new-asian-youth-movement-battles-chinese-trolls/ |url-status=live }} Pallabi Munsi, writing in OZY, in July 2020, described the Milk Tea Alliance as "Asia's volunteer army rising against China's internet trolls."{{Cite web|last=Munsi|first=Pallabi|date=15 July 2020|title=The Asian Volunteer Army Rising Against China's Internet Trolls|url=https://www.ozy.com/around-the-world/the-asian-volunteer-army-rising-against-chinas-internet-trolls/334518/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729012850/https://www.ozy.com/around-the-world/the-asian-volunteer-army-rising-against-chinas-internet-trolls/334518/|archive-date=29 July 2020|access-date=30 July 2020|website=OZY}}

= Further developments =

File:Milk Tea Alliance Locator Map.svg

In the following months, the Milk Tea Alliance evolved from an anti-Beijing meme into a "leaderless protest movement pushing for change across Southeast Asia."{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Heather |title=Milk Tea Alliance: How A Meme Brought Activists From Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand Together |url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/y3zkzb/milk-tea-alliance-how-a-meme-brought-activists-from-taiwan-hong-kong-and-thailand-together |website=www.vice.com |date=18 August 2020 |access-date=18 August 2020 |archive-date=23 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823125433/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/y3zkzb/milk-tea-alliance-how-a-meme-brought-activists-from-taiwan-hong-kong-and-thailand-together |url-status=live }}

Following the 2020 China–India skirmishes, India has also been included in some formulations of the Alliance with masala chai being their representative variety of milk tea.{{cite web|last1=Deol|first1=Taran|title='We conquer, we kill': Taiwan cartoon showing Lord Rama slay Chinese dragon goes viral|url=https://theprint.in/world/we-conquer-we-kill-taiwan-cartoon-showing-lord-rama-slay-chinese-dragon-goes-viral/443814/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618192408/https://theprint.in/world/we-conquer-we-kill-taiwan-cartoon-showing-lord-rama-slay-chinese-dragon-goes-viral/443814/|archive-date=18 June 2020|access-date=18 June 2020|website=theprint.in|date=18 June 2020|publisher=The Print}} Politicians in both Taiwan and India have highlighted the existence of the Milk Tea Alliance including Taiwanese representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim who used the hashtag in a tweet thanking Indians for their support.{{cite web |last1=Cheng |first1=Jassie Hsi |title=The Taiwan–India 'Milk Tea Alliance' |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/10/the-taiwan-india-milk-tea-alliance/ |website=thediplomat.com |publisher=The Diplomat |access-date=28 October 2020 |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416123532/https://thediplomat.com/2020/10/the-taiwan-india-milk-tea-alliance/ |url-status=live }} After Australia called for an investigation into the World Health Organization's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, China threatened a consumer boycott if Australia did not back down from its demands for an inquest. Netizens then included Australia as a member of the Milk Tea Alliance, however, the relation to milk tea is tenuous with the milk product Aptamil standing in for an actual variety of milk tea in imagery.{{cite web |last1=Everington |first1=Keoni |title=Photo of the Day: Australia joins Milk Tea Alliance with Taiwan |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3925084 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |date=29 April 2020 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=30 April 2020 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501044927/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3925084 |url-status=live }}

In August 2020 renewed pro-democracy protests in Thailand, the largest since the 2014 military coup, drew support and solidarity from Taiwanese and Hong Kongers including activist Joshua Wong. The hashtag #MilkTeaAlliance was heavily used by protesters.{{cite web |last1=Patpicha |first1=Tanakasempipat |last2=Chow |first2=Yanni |title=Pro-Democracy Milk Tea Alliance Brews in Asia |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-08-18/pro-democracy-milk-tea-alliance-brews-in-asia |website=www.usnews.com |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=18 August 2020 |archive-date=23 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823125414/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-08-18/pro-democracy-milk-tea-alliance-brews-in-asia |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Fenn |first1=Kirsten |title='We Share the Ideals of Democracy.' How the Milk Tea Alliance Is Brewing Solidarity Among Activists in Asia and Beyond |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-nov-6-2020-1.5792160/thai-pro-democracy-activists-not-alone-in-their-fight-says-hong-kong-lawmaker-1.5792799 |website=www.cbc.ca |publisher=CBC Radio |date=6 November 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020 |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416123530/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-nov-6-2020-1.5792160/thai-pro-democracy-activists-not-alone-in-their-fight-says-hong-kong-lawmaker-1.5792799 |url-status=live }} The 2020 Belarusian protests broke out in August following opposition rejection to the results of the presidential election. Activists from the country, inspired by the Milk Tea Alliance, began to use Ryazhenka, a traditional fermented milk product drink of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine as a symbol of resistance to the government of Alexander Lukashenko.{{Cite journal|last=Chachavalpongpun|first=Pavin|title=Constitutionalizing the Monarchy|date=2020|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26939972|journal=Journal of International Affairs|volume=73|issue=2|pages=169|doi=|jstor=26939972|issn=0022-197X|access-date=9 April 2021|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416123530/https://www.jstor.org/stable/26939972|url-status=live}}

In February 2021, in the wake of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, activists in Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand began adopting the Milk Tea Alliance in show of solidarity, with pictures of Royal Myanmar Tea bags shared thousands of times.{{Cite web|date=4 February 2021|title=#MilkTeaAlliance has a new target brewing: Myanmar's military|url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3120526/asias-milkteaalliance-has-new-target-brewing-generals-behind|access-date=5 February 2021|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|archive-date=23 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223094651/https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3120526/asias-milkteaalliance-has-new-target-brewing-generals-behind|url-status=live}} An illustration by Thai artist Sina Wittayawiroj that depicts Thai, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, Indian and Burmese milk tea under the "Milk Tea Alliance" headline went viral. The anti-coup protesters have been solidly integrated into the online protest movement.{{cite web |last1=Lau |first1=Jessie |title=Myanmar's Protest Movement Finds Friends in the Milk Tea Alliance |url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/02/myanmars-protest-movement-finds-friends-in-the-milk-tea-alliance/ |website=thediplomat.com |publisher=The Diplomat |access-date=12 February 2021 |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416123530/https://thediplomat.com/2021/02/myanmars-protest-movement-finds-friends-in-the-milk-tea-alliance/ |url-status=live }}

In April 2021, Twitter created an emoji in support of the Milk Tea Alliance following anti-Beijing protests across Hong Kong and the 2021 Myanmar coup.{{Cite news |date=8 April 2021 |title=Milk Tea Alliance: Twitter creates emoji for pro-democracy activists |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56676144 |access-date=9 April 2021 |archive-date=25 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425183358/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56676144 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Castronuovo |first=Celine |date=8 April 2021 |title=Twitter unveils emoji for pro-democracy Milk Tea Alliance |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/547164-twitter-unveils-emoji-for-pro-democracy-milk-tea-alliance |access-date=8 April 2021 |website=The Hill|language=en |archive-date=8 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408171409/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/547164-twitter-unveils-emoji-for-pro-democracy-milk-tea-alliance |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Tanakasempipat |first=Patpicha |date=8 April 2021 |title=Twitter launches 'Milk Tea Alliance' emoji as movement grows |language=en |work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asia-protests-twitter-idUSKBN2BV0U0 |access-date=8 April 2021 |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416123530/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asia-protests-twitter-idUSKBN2BV0U0 |url-status=live }} It marked the one year anniversary of the Milk Tea Alliance.{{Cite web |date=8 April 2021 |title=Twitter launches emoji to support Milk Tea Alliance, one year after hashtag first appeared |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3128783/twitter-launches-emoji-support-milk-tea-alliance-one-year |access-date=9 April 2021 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416123530/https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3128783/twitter-launches-emoji-support-milk-tea-alliance-one-year |url-status=live }}

Organization

The movement does not have a formal leadership or hierarchy.{{cite web |last1=Wu |first1=Wendy |title=Milk Tea Alliance brews trouble for China |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4246387 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |date=12 July 2021 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714000305/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4246387 |url-status=live }}