Written by Wei-ting Liou. This article focuses on the author’s experiences in “worlding” Taiwan literature through their academic work. This includes engaging with translation, examining Taiwanese American literature, and teaching English-taught courses on Taiwan literature and culture. The author believes these approaches can help reshape the conventional understanding of Taiwan literary studies.
Written by Aoife Cantrill. Translation plays a crucial role in contemporary Taiwan literature, reflecting the country’s complex history and linguistic diversity. This article examines how Taiwanese writers use translation not only to share their stories with the world but also to explore their own cultural identity and historical memory.
Written by Yixin Xu. This article argues that the novel Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise can be considered a significant contribution to the #MeToo movement and a literary counterpoint to Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita. It highlights the novel’s unique perspective by focusing on the victim’s experience of sexual abuse and the complexities of her emotional response. The author emphasises how the novel challenges the romanticized portrayal of the predator in Lolita and exposes the devastating reality of sexual violence.
Written by Yo-Ling Chen. The article discusses Taiwan’s anti-gender movement’s misuse of research to promote misinformation about public attitudes toward transgender rights. It focuses on a questionable survey published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, which misrepresented findings and lacked informed consent.
Written by Yi-Ting Chung. Taiwan faces significant challenges amid global tensions. At the 2024 NATSA conference, FAPA discussed grassroots advocacy to enhance US-Taiwan relations, addressing misconceptions and emphasising bipartisan support. They stressed the need for long-term commitment to effectively promote Taiwan’s democracy and human rights.
Written by Dah-Wei (David) Yih. This article describes a workshop hosted at the NATSA conference that aimed to empower participants to communicate Taiwan’s significance to American audiences. The workshop emphasised Taiwan’s multifaceted importance to the United States, ranging from economic and geopolitical ties to shared democratic values and technological cooperation. It used interactive activities and facilitated discussions to help attendees understand why Taiwan matters and how to communicate this understanding to others effectively.
Written by Panchen Lo, Pei-Chen Cheng, and Ssu-chieh Jessica Fan (University of Texas, Austin). This article details a panel discussion at the NATSA conference featuring three scholars who discussed the experiences and identities of Taiwanese Americans. The panel focused on the intersection of Cold War geopolitics, class, and the complicated process of identity formation. It critically examined how historical context, class, and racial narratives have shaped the lives and experiences of Taiwanese Americans.
Written by Aaron Su and Chao-Kai Huang. This article highlights the need to move beyond simply representing Indigenous voices and towards a transformative approach that centres Indigenous perspectives and experiences. It focuses on a roundtable discussion featuring three Taiwanese Indigenous scholars who share their experiences navigating Indigenous studies in both Taiwan and North America. The speakers emphasised the importance of building relationships and solidarity across disciplines and beyond institutions, advocating for a more equitable and comprehensive understanding of Indigenous peoples and histories.
Written by Yu-Han Huang and Li-Ting Chang. This article is about the 30th NATSA Conference’s closing forum, which discussed the historical development of Taiwan Studies as a field, particularly emphasizing its interdisciplinary nature and growing significance in global scholarship. The forum featured four experts who presented their perspectives on Taiwan studies, exploring its evolution through various disciplines such as history, anthropology, ethnomusicology, and medical history. It highlighted the increasing importance of understanding Taiwan within a global context, emphasizing the need to connect its history and experiences with broader international dialogues and discussions.
Written by Jess Marinaccio. This article examines the 53rd Leaders Meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum, taking place from 26 to 30 August 2024. It highlights the several controversies that Taiwan was embroiled in during the Meeting, particularly in regard to Taiwan’s position as a PIF “development partner” despite objections from China.
Written by Charles Lee. This article raises fundamental questions about theatre sustainability. It focuses on theatre venues and infrastructure in Taiwan by critically examining productions that attempt to respond to the concerns through distinct approaches. The author also investigates the unique dynamics Taiwanese The author also explores the unique dynamics that Taiwanese audiences have with the “aesthetics of Anthropocene theatre”.
Written by Gunter Schubert. Taiwan’s security is largely determined by the government’s ability to promote the resilience of Taiwan’s high-tech industries, especially semiconductors, to ensure their international competitiveness and crisis resilience. Based on this fact, this article raises two subsequent questions: what strategies are the Taiwanese semiconductor industry pursuing to secure its technological edge and markets in the new global power constellation? And what is the Taiwanese government doing to strengthen the country’s economic security, which arguably depends essentially on maintaining Taiwan’s leading position in the global high-tech industry over the long term?
Taiwan Insight 