Taiwan Insight

Not All Stories Are Yours To Tell – A Reflection on The Century Bloodshed Part I

Written by Chee-Hann Wu. This article reflects a personal memory and classroom discussion; she explores the ethical responsibilities of artists when representing traumatic historical events. Emphasising consent, historical accuracy, and self-awareness, the piece argues that storytellers and audiences alike must engage critically with how collective trauma is portrayed and remembered in art and media.

The Hidden Prison: How Taiwanese Comics Expose the White Terror’s Quiet Scars

Written by Meng Kit Tang. The piece examines how two recent Taiwanese comics: White Prison Shadows 2 (2025), grounded in Ye Shitao’s White Terror experiences, and White Rebellion 1 (2024), a speculative thriller; reveal the White Terror’s most enduring legacy: not the prison cell itself, but a “prison outside the prison” sustained through surveillance, social stigma, and internalized self-censorship.

From White Terror to Green Overreach: Taiwan’s Democracy Under Pressure

Written by Meng Kit Tang. This article examines how Taiwan, under mounting pressure from Beijing, risks drifting toward legal and administrative overreach at home. Drawing on recent high-profile detentions, national security legislation, and institutional gridlock, it argues that while today’s Taiwan bears no resemblance in scale to the White Terror, it increasingly echoes its methods: vague laws, procedural shortcuts, and media-driven stigma.

Defining Taiwan Studies

6 March 2026 Adrian Chiu

Written by Aleksandrs Gross. Chun-yi Lee’s path into Taiwan Studies was the result of following research questions that matched her interests and skills. She chose to study the island from the outside within a specific academic discipline. As the director of the Taiwan Research Hub at Nottingham University, she sees herself as a communicator, sharing what she knows, and as a facilitator, encouraging others to explore further.

Chance Encounters

5 March 2026 Adrian Chiu

Written by Aleksandrs Gross. Prof. Niki J.P. Alsford’s journey into the field of Taiwan studies was the result of a series of interests, each of which brought him a little closer to Taiwan. He remains optimistic about the future of Taiwan studies in offering cultural intelligence beyond surface familiarity, and also believes that remaining open, and saying yes to all opportunities is crucial for aspiring scholars.

Following Interests, Forging a Field: The Career of Ming-yeh Rawnsley

4 March 2026 Adrian Chiu

Written by Aleksandrs Gross. Today, Ming-yeh Rawnsley is one of the foremost authorities on Taiwanese language cinema, the founder of the International Journal of Taiwan Studies (IJTS), and the former Secretary-General of the European Association of Taiwan Studies (EATS). However, her career was driven by her interests, leading her to break conventional academic paths and combine specialisations creatively.

The Emergence of the Taiwan Studies Movement

3 March 2026 Adrian Chiu

Written by Aleksandrs Gross. This second article on Professor Dafydd Fell explores the defining experiences of his career in a more institutional context. In particular, the establishment of the European Association of Taiwan Studies, and the development of the Taiwan Studies Centre and the Taiwan Master’s programme at SOAS. This article concludes with advice for those starting out and key takeaways.

The Wrong Place at the Right Time

2 March 2026 Adrian Chiu

Written by Aleksandrs Gross. Over the past two decades, Taiwan Studies has emerged in Europe as a rigorous and independent field. Examining the experiences of the field’s most influential scholars offers valuable insight. This first article examines the career of Professor Dafydd Fell, from his early experiences studying Taiwan by accident to his role in bringing Taiwan studies to Europe.

Trump Comments Suggest Taiwan’s Defense is Up for Negotiation with China

27 February 2026 Adrian Chiu

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.

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