Written by Brian Hioe. US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP alarmed earlier this month after comments suggesting that he would decide whether to suspend arms sales to Taiwan after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April.
Category: International relations
Asymmetric Scholarship Paradox in India–Taiwan Relations
Written by Neeraj Mehra. The article argues that Taiwan’s scholarship diplomacy offers strategic technological benefits for India, particularly in semiconductors and applied research, yet remains underutilised by elite Indian institutions. The problem lies in institutional inertia and prestige bias, limiting long-term academic collaboration and knowledge transfer.
Taiwan’s Diplomatic Bridge: Taiwan-Somaliland-Israel vs China in the Horn of Africa
Written by Faisal Abdirashid Adam. This article demonstrates that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, grounded in five years of Taiwan–Somaliland cooperation, marks a significant geopolitical shift in the Horn of Africa. It argues that sustained collaboration in maritime security, agriculture, healthcare, and governance transformed diplomatic isolation into strategic credibility, enabling formal recognition. At the same time, the move has intensified regional and global tensions, particularly with China and neighbouring states wary of sovereignty disputes and shifting power balances.
The New NSS’s Contradictions Towards Taiwan
Written by Baosheng Guo. This article highlights four contradictions in the US’s 2025 National Security Strategy, including the tension between defending Taiwan and the Retrenchment strategy toward China, burden-sharing exceeding allies’ tolerance, aligning allies’ actions with US interests, and maintaining American soft power while abandoning Taiwan’s democratic values.
Hype and Hard Realities: Taiwan’s Diplomacy in Late 2025
Written by Meng Kit Tang. This article examines Taiwan’s diplomacy in late 2025, including Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s recent Brussels appearance. It argues that overstated narratives risk creating misaligned expectations at home and misunderstanding abroad. The commentary highlights how Taiwan can pursue a more resilient, results-oriented diplomatic strategy.
Taiwan-UK 2025: A year of significant engagement
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.
US-Taiwan Relations 2025 Review and 2026 Outlook
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.
US-Taiwan relations in 2025; It sure was a turbulent year.
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.
As Japan’s Relations With China Grow More Distant, Relations With Taiwan Improve
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.
Facing the Uncertainty of Trump’s Taiwan Policy: Taiwan’s diplomatic, economic, and military approaches to address the significant challenge
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.
When Cultural Exchange Is Forced to Tiptoe Around Authoritarian Red Lines
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.
Who Is Taiwanese: Rejection or Redefinition?
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.
Taiwan Insight 