Written by Neeraj Mehra. The article argues that despite Taiwan’s generous scholarships and growing demand for talent, few Indian students pursue Mandarin proficiency. Cultural attitudes toward language learning, limited career visibility, reliance on English, and the absence of strong alumni networks discourage long-term commitment, hindering deeper India-Taiwan educational and professional ties.
Written by Wasiq Silan. This article invites us to rethink individualistic academic mobility and advocates for a decolonial approach to international collaboration. Drawing on journeys to New York and Panama with Taiwan’s Millet Ark team, the author introduces Indigenous methodologies such as lmuhuw (singing map/weaving) and qutux niqan (kinship bonds). The author argues that meaningful collaboration requires moving collectively with Elders and youth, transforming travel from knowledge extraction into relational accountability.
Written by Charles R. Charrington. This article examines the pervasive reality of sexual violence in Taiwan, highlighting its deep historical roots, systemic failures, and modern digital complexities. It analyses how structural vulnerabilities, cultural stigma, and institutional gaps protect perpetrators while silencing survivors. The author underscores the urgent need for robust education, systemic accountability, and targeted reforms to dismantle entrenched rape myths and protect potential victims.
Written by Sheng-mei Ma. This article reads Splendid Float (2004) as an allegory for Taiwan’s uncertain political and cultural identity. Through the dual life of a drag queen and Taoist priest, the film links gender fluidity, folk funeral rituals, and queer performance to Taiwan’s status as a marginalised “ghost island,” and explores themes of belonging, loss, alterity, and national ambiguity.
Written by Sheng-mei Ma. This article argues that the film Left-Handed Girl (2025) uses Taiwan’s night markets, betel nut culture, and the stigma surrounding left-handedness to critique patriarchal power. Through a multigenerational family drama centred on women’s resilience, the film exposes how oppression is perpetuated by both men and women while imagining a restored matrilineal bond that challenges inherited social hierarchies and cultural prejudices.
Written by Fang-Chang Kuo. The article examines how the CPBL transformed from a sport-centred league into an entertainment-driven spectacle, fuelled by celebrity cheerleaders like Lee Da-Hye. It argues that entertainment talent can rival superstar athletes in driving attendance, while highlighting how branding, social media, and novelty increasingly shape modern sports economics and fan culture.
