Written by Chee-Hann Wu. This article discusses Taiwan Travelogue and its US book tour earlier this year. It highlights the controversial marketing strategy, the extensive use of footnotes to enrich the historical context, and the categorisation of the novel as queer literature due to the evident, though subtle, romantic undertones between the two female protagonists.
Written by Adrienne Wu and Yuchen Lee. The article discusses the impact of budget cuts to Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture. These cuts, including major reductions to media promotion, threaten Taiwan’s cultural industries, limit international outreach, and undermine the country’s ability to counter Beijing’s media influence.
Written by Wei-Jie Liao. This article questions the justification and methods of the unprecedented budget cuts passed by Taiwan’s opposition in 2025, noting flawed reasoning behind many proposals. The author advocates for the importance of transparency and accountability in the budget process for both the executive and legislative branches.
Written by Hsin-Yi Chao. This article discusses cultural equity and the rights of persons with disabilities in Taiwan. It examines cultural equity subsidies since 2016, noting that despite overall budget growth, cultural equity funding remains unstable. The author highlights a case where budget cuts led to the suspension of sign language interpretation services and proposes policy recommendations to strengthen cultural equity implementation.
Written by Patricia Huang. This article analyses the budget cuts to Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, including the freezing of funds for museums and the possible impacts of under-budgeting. It explores the debate around subsidising culture and the concept of “Cultural Exception”. The author also examines alternative funding sources for culture, taking examples from other countries, such as lotteries and TV licensing fees.
Written by Wu Chieh-Hsiang. This article discusses the potential consequences of budget cuts to Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture. It explores concerns about censorship and repression due to these cuts, as well as the impact on cultural institutions and freedom of expression.
Written by Wei-chi Chen. This article explores the terms “Black Cat” and “Black Dog” in colonial Taiwan during the 1920s and 30s. These terms, originating from a Taiwanese opera song, were used to translate the Japanese “moga” and “mobo,” describing emerging gender identities and a new social identity in modern urban culture. They also reflected a shift towards liberation and a contrast with existing gender norms at that time.
Written by Max Dixon. This article examines the AI model DeepSeek’s perspective on Taiwan, which essentially undermines Taiwan’s sovereignty and distinct history. DeepSeek adheres strictly to Chinese Communist Party’s views, undermining historical complexities and potentially influencing international understanding of Taiwan’s status, posing risks for future discourse.
Written by Ian Yi-Rong Su. Taiwan is enhancing its New Southbound Policy (NSP) in response to Chinese threats, focusing on sharing economy, technology, and youth empowerment. The NSP strengthens ties with ASEAN countries and promotes Taiwan’s role in global supply chains, especially in semiconductors. The upcoming NSP+ aims to further enhance international partnerships and Taiwan’s global presence.
Written by Dafydd Fell. The article traces the establishment of the Taiwan Studies Programme at SOAS and explores how it integrates Taiwan Studies courses with an extensive event program, including lectures, film screenings, and alumni talks. The strategy enhances student engagement, sustains interest in Taiwan-related studies, and fosters academic-community interaction. By combining teaching with real-world experiences, the Taiwan Studies Programme at SOAS successfully maintains a long-term and sustainable environment for Taiwan studies.
Written by Chan-yueh Liu. This article emphasizes the importance of teaching Taiwan through its multilingual heritage, advocating for the inclusion of Taiwanese languages (Tâi-gí in academic programs. It introduces “Performative Interpretation Strategies” at Inalco in France, which engages students through performance, music and digital content creation. The approach enhances language learning by fostering creativity, cultural immersion, and communicative competence.
Written by Thomas Fliß. This article introduces the workshop “Mapping Taiwan Teaching – Teaching Taiwan in Script, Speech and Performance” at Trier University, which focused on teaching Taiwan through language, culture, and performance. Scholars and educators explored Taiwan’s geopolitical significance, linguistic diversity, and cultural identity. The event featured interdisciplinary panels on Taiwan’s literature, theatre, and education, highlighting the need for expanded Taiwanese language courses and intercultural learning methods.
Taiwan Insight 