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.
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.
Written by Min-Erh Wang. This article examines the conceptualisation of a “Taiwan School of Music” within contemporary musicology. Exploring the intersection of music, postcolonial agency, and identity, the author critiques state-driven cultural hegemony while advocating for a bottom-up, pluralistic framework. Using strategic essentialism, the project offers an open acoustic space to express Taiwan’s distinct democratic identity.
Written by Gina Song Lopez. This article explores the rise of Taiwan’s modern vegan movement, examining its transition from traditional religious vegetarianism to a youth-driven advocacy centered on animal ethics, climate action, and identity. Through NGOs, digital platforms, and policy engagement, local advocates are redefining meatless diets while shaping Taiwan’s dynamic plant-based foodscape and advancing national sustainability goals on the global stage.
Written by Frédéric Krumbein. This article introduces a five-theory framework to analyse cross-strait relations. By evaluating historical decisions, economic integration, identity shifts, and security dynamics, the author provides a comprehensive analytical toolkit to map future trajectories for Taiwan-China relations across varying degrees of political salience.
Written by Simona A. Grano. The author explores the shifting dynamics of cross-Strait relations, tracing Beijing’s strategy from historical “letters to compatriots” to modern grey-zone coercion. She highlights how China’s unification rhetoric increasingly clashes with Taiwan’s democratic identity, creating an environment where political messaging, military posture, and strategic coercion closely align.
