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.
Written by Aileen A. Espiritu, Marc Lanteigne, and Tse-Kang Leng. This article argues that Taiwan should construct a clear, multifaceted Arctic policy to safeguard its future prosperity and strengthen the country’s international standing. It outlines multiple areas where Taiwan can contribute and benefit, including trade, climate, science, diplomacy, Indigenous communities and geopolitics. An inclusive Arctic policy is not distant curiosity but a strategic aspiration.
Written by Aleksandrs Gross. This article examines Cheng Li-wun’s leadership through the eyes of the younger generation. Not only did her statements on identity and Taiwan’s future fail to resonate with younger people, but she also failed to address livelihood issues such as high housing prices, inflation and employment pressure, which are seen as the most critical issues for younger Taiwanese.
Written By Paula Perez. This article analyses the promises and positions of Cheng Li-wun. It argues that Cheng offers nothing new in terms of its identity claims and the 1992 Consensus and questions who is the audience Cheng is speaking to. However, she brings something other leadership candidates did not, personifying the redemption of a generation who she claims is misled by de-Sinicised education.
Written by Brian Hioe. This article compares the new KMT party chair Cheng Li-wun to Hung Hsiu-chu. Both made waves on the basis of their deep blue political leanings and hardline stance on advocating for unification. She already faces some internal pushback against her leadership, though it remains to be seen whether Cheng will follow Hung’s trajectory of falling from grace.
Written by Ching-yuan (Joy) Hung and Mu-Chen (Jenny) Liu. This article tells the shared journey of two NTU graduate students who interned at the Kew Gardens. Immersed in diverse experiences, including seed imaging, herbarium tours, and a culture of scientific exchange, they found renewed purpose in research, which led both to reimagine their paths toward doctoral studies and global collaboration.
Written by Tzu-Li Yang. The author shares his engagement in specimen curation, trait data building, and cross-cultural learning while interning at Kew Gardens, which transformed his view of herbaria – from static collections to dynamic data systems supporting global botanical collaboration.
Written by Ni-Chen Lin and Chih-Wei Hsieh. Two NTU students, Ni-Chen and Chih-Wei, joined Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank through the NTU Overseas Internship Programme. Their experiences, studying seed survival and tree seed diversity, broadened their global perspectives on conservation. Returning to Taiwan, both apply Kew’s collaborative, research-driven values in academic and governmental roles.
Written by Ssu-Han (Evelyn) Chiu. This article recounts the author’s 2024 internship at Kew Gardens. Working with Kew’s Science Education Team, the author explored citizen science initiatives, attended the International Botanical Congress, and co-organised a workshop on public engagement, which reshaped the author’s understanding of collaboration, communication, and innovation in global plant science.
Written by Richard Gianfrancesco. This article introduces the collaboration between the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the National Taiwan University (NTU) to train future biodiversity experts. Beginning in 2022, the partnership has provided NTU students with research placements in Kew’s collections and laboratories.
Taiwan Insight 