Taiwan Insight

Mei’s Original Sin (美之原罪): Settler Colonialism, “Beautiful Country,” White Beauty

Written by Sheng-mei Ma. This article focuses on self-alienation and the pursuit of Eurocentric beauty standards. It examines how Chinese linguistic biases and the prevalence of cosmetic surgery among celebrities reflect a subconscious, self-inflicted whitewashing that parallels historical settler colonialism and racial hierarchies.

LIBERTY SQUARE REVISITED: THE WILD LILY MOVEMENT AND TAIWAN’S DEMOCRATIC CRISIS

Written by Vasja Hafner. This article argues that the Wild Lily Movement not only created repertoires that have been repeatedly reused in subsequent movements, using occupation of public space as the primary way to articulate democratic legitimacy, but also helped create a structural gap in the constitutional architecture. The same protest repertoire is now being used to contest the institutional order.

Beyond Exclusion: Countering Taiwan’s Identity Subordination in Non-State Institutions

Written by Nilufer Mistry Sheasby. This article examines how non-state institutions undermine Taiwan’s identity by mandating subordinating terminology in ostensibly apolitical settings. It argues that traditional diplomatic responses are insufficient and proposes a multi-faceted playbook: coordinating government and private actors to challenge naming decisions, mobilising stakeholder pressure, and mitigating harm when reversal remains impossible.

Lithuania’s Taiwan Balancing Act Tests Europe’s Resolve

Written by Jozef Huljak. This article discusses how Lithuania is resuming economic cooperation talks with Taiwan despite internal political pressure to reset relations with Beijing. This strategy aims to shift the relationship from symbolic solidarity to durable economic interest, testing Europe’s resolve against Chinese coercion while proving that a resilient, mutually beneficial partnership can withstand domestic political cycles.

Taiwan-South Africa relations: how the ‘One China’ principle strengthens Beijing’s influence

30 October 2026 Adrian Chiu

Written by Dr Daouda Cissé. This article examines how China’s growing economic and political influence has reshaped South Africa’s relations with Taiwan. It explores how the One China principle operates beyond diplomatic recognition, shaping institutional presence, political networks, economic ties, and Pretoria’s foreign policy, while highlighting Taiwan’s diminishing space in South Africa and across Africa.

Taiwan’s Lost Islamicate Strait: Quanzhou, Muslim-descended lineages, and the maritime history a China-only frame leaves out

28 October 2026 NGA Shi Yeu

Written by Joshua W.J. Brown. This article recovers an overlooked Islamicate layer in Taiwan’s maritime history by tracing connections between Quanzhou, Muslim-descended Fujianese lineages, and migration across the Taiwan Strait. Rejecting claims of a “Muslim Taiwan,” it instead shows how genealogy, ports, ritual memory, and maritime networks complicate China-centred histories and reveal Taiwan as part of a plural, interconnected maritime world.

TAIWAN AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: GEOHISTORICAL TRAJECTORIES FROM EAST ASIA TO OCEANIA

27 October 2026 NGA Shi Yeu

Written by Charles R. Charrington. Taiwan’s connection to Oceania spans deep prehistoric migrations, historic trade, and complex geopolitical shifts. From the ancient expansion of Austronesian-speaking ancestors to colonial-era exploitation and modern diplomatic dynamics, the island remains deeply tied to the Pacific. Today, amid environmental challenges and rising superpower rivalries, Taiwan continues to reshape its regional presence through development aid, climate resilience initiatives, and cultural exchange.

When it comes to Taiwan’s sovereign AI, asking “Sovereign for whom?” rarely includes Taiwanese Indigenous Nations

26 October 2026 Adrian Chiu

Written by Coleton Hast. Taiwan’s pursuit of sovereign AI raises questions about whose sovereignty it serves. This article examines how projects such as TAIDE and the Indigenous Languages Research and Development Foundation’s language tools incorporate Indigenous data. It argues that representation alone is insufficient without Indigenous control over data and governance of AI development.

When Renewable Energy Becomes a Barrier to Upgrading: The Dilemma of SMEs in Taiwan

23 October 2026 Adrian Chiu

Written by Sin Lee and Chan-Yuan Wong. This article argues that Taiwan’s AI and net-zero transitions risk creating a K-shaped economy, as large firms gain better access to capital, technology, talent, and renewable energy while SMEs struggle with upgrading costs. It examines how unequal access to green electricity could constrain SMEs’ participation in global supply chains and proposes policy support.

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