Written by Avis and Aleksandrs Gross. This article reviews the formation of The Recall Movement in 2025 and reflects on this democratic experience. It suggests that the movement developed a decentralised mode of operation, demonstrating how a social movement can function effectively without any top-down organisation, supported by social media such as Threads.
Written by Max Dixon. The year 2025 has seen the most significant uplift in engagement between the United Kingdom and Taiwan in the history of the bilateral relationship. This article reviews efforts to include Taiwan in British foreign policy-making, including the first explicit consideration of Taiwan in the National Security Strategy, and the mutual visits of former leaders.
Written by Chieh-Ting Yeh. This article reviews an eventful year of 2025 in Taiwan-US relations. Defence and trade continue to be the most important issues of the bilateral relationship under the Trump administration. It argues that the narrative surrounding it is fundamentally reactive and does not inspire hope or action. We need a more robust, imaginative, positive, optimistic, uplifting, inspiring, forward-looking, and hopeful narrative for US-Taiwan relations.
Written by Gerrit van der Wees. This article suggests that Taiwan-US relations in 2025 were turbulent. The year was marked by contradictory presidential statements, unprecedented congressional activism, and the codification of Taiwan’s strategic importance in U.S. defence and security planning. The latest PLA military exercise indicates that 2026 will be even more turbulent.
Written by Aleksandrs Gross. This article analyses recent Taiwan-Japan solidarity amid tensions between Japan and China. It captures how widespread and deep mutual support is at the grassroots, people-to-people level in both countries. The current tense political climate has only deepened the friendship between the two peoples. This benefits Taiwan and puts China in a tricky position.
Written by Carissa Cheng. Despite strong economic growth, Taiwan’s youth face stagnant wages, soaring housing costs, and limited opportunities, prompting many to abandon the DPP for the TPP in 2024. The article argues economic insecurity, party factionalism, and perceptions of elitism drove this shift, and urges the DPP to refocus on youth-centred economic policy, messaging, and reform.
Written by Baosheng Guo. This article analyses Taiwan’s options in the face of Trump’s uncertain and unpredictable Taiwan policy. It suggests that Taiwan should urge the US to provide strategic clarity and strengthen its relationship with Europe. Taiwan should also weaponise the interdependence of its semiconductor industry with the US and prepare to restart its research and development of nuclear weapons.
Written by Isis M. Lee. A landmark exhibition in Prague displays 100 masterpieces from Taiwan’s National Palace Museum — yet Taiwan itself disappears from the story. This erasure reveals how authoritarian pressure increasingly shapes cultural spaces far beyond China’s borders.
Written by Meng Kit Tang. This article explores the evolving debate over Taiwanese identity, contrasting two models: the rejectionist approach and the redefinition model. It examines the implications of each model for domestic cohesion, diplomacy, and national resilience, arguing that a redefinition approach provides Taiwan with a stronger foundation to navigate internal polarisation and external pressures.
Written by Aleksandrs Gross. This article explores a unique phenomenon that occurred during the recalls – small businesses explicitly voiced their stance on the recalls. This mirrors similar patterns of Hong Kong during the pro-democracy movement in 2019. The author interviewed three pro-recall businesses to understand their stance and how they encourage constructive discussion without alienating opponents.
Written by Laura Bonsaver. This article proposes that Europe should move beyond threat-centric framings of Taiwan and recognise it as an innovative, democratic, and technologically advanced partner. It recommends de-hyphenating Taiwan from militaristic narratives, normalising its role in Indo-Pacific strategies, and reframing Europe-Taiwan relations as mutually beneficial collaborations rather than dependency or crisis management.
Written by Tasaw Hsin-Chun Lu. After Myanmar’s 2021 coup, Taiwan’s Sino-Myanmar Gen Z created a nightly revolutionary soundscape through Facebook Live. By co-listening to the clang of pots and pans, revived protest anthems, and newly sharpened hip-hop, they transformed distant violence into shared urgency. These circulating sounds stitched together a fragile yet insistent counterpublic, allowing young listeners in Taipei to grieve, rage, and imagine with those in Myanmar. Through this quiet, collective listening, they claimed a sense of belonging that crossed borders and defied the junta’s enforced silence.
Taiwan Insight 