Taiwan Insight

Taiwan’s Austronesian Diplomacy: The Taitung National Museum of Prehistory as an Actor of Museum-Indigenous Diplomacy

Written by Simon Delpeuch. This article examines Taiwan’s Austronesian diplomacy, highlighting the deep tension between the state’s political exploitation of indigenous heritage to counter diplomatic isolation and a more authentic, community-driven approach. It focuses on the National Museum of Prehistory (NMP) as a vital model of informal, reciprocal museum-indigenous diplomacy. By explicitly abandoning Taiwan-centric “origin” narratives, the NMP fosters genuine regional partnerships, despite facing ongoing constraints from broader state agendas and complex geopolitical pressures.

Becoming “Taiwanist”

Written by Wen-chi Li. This article advocates for the institutionalisation of “Taiwanology” and the identity of the “Taiwanist.” Moving beyond traditional European Sinology, Li draws on Deleuzian philosophy to frame this transition not as a rejection, but as a dynamic process of becoming, as an open, fluid space of intellectual resistance that embraces a complex, plural, and planetary dialogue.

Are Taiwanese Technologies Eco-friendly?

Written by Maytapat Pararaman. This article examines the environmental sustainability of Taiwan’s technology sector by exploring the interplay between semiconductor development, environmental governance, and international climate commitments. It argues that while legislation, the RE100 initiative, and COP26 participation have strengthened Taiwan’s green transition, tensions remain between economic competitiveness, democratic geopolitics, and ecological responsibility. Ultimately, the article suggests that eco-friendly technological innovation could become a defining pillar of Taiwan’s future international identity and global credibility.

When Questions Travel: Lived Geopolitics, Intellectual Circulation, and Return

25 September 2026 NGA Shi Yeu

Written by Ai Ke. This article reflects on how questions of mobility, identity, and geopolitics travel across ethnographic and academic settings. Following younger Taiwanese professionals working in mainland China, she develops the idea of “contested proximity” to examine how geopolitical tensions permeate ordinary life. Her return to Tübingen shows how intellectual connectivity emerges through ideas that circulate, transform, and return through dialogue.

One Week of Connectivity: Reflections from a Vietnamese PhD Student in Taiwan Studies

24 September 2026 NGA Shi Yeu

Written by Vo Thanh Hien. In this reflective essay, a Vietnamese doctoral student based in Taiwan shares how attending a week-long workshop in Tübingen, Germany, redefined their understanding of “connectivity.” Moving beyond formal International Relations theory, he describes how shared logistics, interdisciplinary feedback, and spontaneous moments transformed a room of researchers into a supportive academic community.

Taiwan Beer: Tradition, Trade, and Lager

23 September 2026 NGA Shi Yeu

Written by Jordan Laramore. This article explores how Taiwan Beer reflects the island’s turbulent political and economic history. Originating under Japanese colonial rule in 1919 and later shaped by ROC government agricultural policies, most notably incorporating local Ponlai rice, the brand evolved into a cultural icon. Today, Taiwan Beer faces market liberalisation, foreign competition, and cross-strait trade tensions, transforming from a state-managed monopoly into a powerful symbol of Taiwanese identity and resilience against economic coercion.

Data is not a decision: Taiwan’s whole-of-society resilience and the procurement gap

22 September 2026 Adrian Chiu

Written by Al Vigier. Taiwan’s resilience exercises in August reveal a critical gap: Taiwan is rapidly acquiring sensors, drones and communications infrastructure but lacks a trusted decision layer for crises when networks fail. This article argues that Taiwan should procure explainable, auditable, and human-controlled decision-support systems, thereby transforming AI principles into enforceable procurement requirements.

Rehearsing the First Hour

21 September 2026 Adrian Chiu

Written By Meng Kit Tang. This article examines what Taiwan’s Han Kuang 42 exercise and China’s expanding mock-Taipei training facilities reveal about how both sides are preparing for the opening hours of a Taiwan Strait conflict. It argues that both sides are preparing for the same strategic problem from opposite directions: Taiwan is trying to preserve time and China is preparing to compress that window.

Geopolitical Anxiety Factors in Czech Republic-Taiwan Relations

18 September 2026 Adrian Chiu

Written by Wei-Chung Chen. This article examines Taiwan-Czech relations through the lens of geopolitical anxiety, identifying five periods in Czech political discourse on Taiwan. Taiwan has become a political symbol through which Czech actors negotiate tensions between liberal and authoritarian identities. The relationship’s future, however, remains uncertain amid renewed political divisions.

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