Written by Dr Josie-Marie Perkuhn & Professor Dr Christian Soffel. This article introduces Taiwan as a Pioneer (TAP), a four-year interdisciplinary postdoctoral project strengthening Taiwan Studies in Europe through research, workshops, teaching initiatives, digital infrastructure, and fieldwork. Treating Taiwan’s innovations as analytical lenses on global change, TAP built lasting scholarly networks and resources beyond a single funding cycle.
Written by Wen-Qing (Sarah) Jiang. This article studies the increasing use of cognitive tactics in information operations by China and Russia. The internal political polarisation makes Taiwan and the EU especially vulnerable to these campaigns. The article contrasts the responses of Taiwan and Transnistria to cognitive warfare, highlighting the importance of a resilient government and a vibrant civil society.
Written by Eason Leung. This article examines the unofficial diplomacy of Taiwan in Eastern Europe. It identifies a flexible approach of Taiwan in dealing with various Eastern European nations – deepening ties with friendly nations such as Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic, while seeking trade and investments opportunities for countries with closer ties with China like Hungary.
Written by Alessandro Albana and Antonio Fiori. The president-elect Lai Ching-te is expected to bring about no significant changes compared to the incumbent leadership of Tsai Ing-wen in terms of external relations. This article reviews the growing relationship between Taiwan and Europe in the past few years and the potential obstacles ahead.
Written by Gunter Schubert. Slowly, the dust settles after French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarkable performance during his state visit to China from April 5-7. However, it is a safe bet that his statements on the danger of the European Union (EU) being drawn into a war by the US because of Taiwan, a place of no interest to Europeans, will have long-lasting repercussions for the transatlantic relationship.
Written by Gunter Schubert. The Taiwanese people and their political representatives must decide if they want to forge a national consensus on their relationship with China and communicate this clearly in Europe and beyond – or if they would rather prefer to adhere to an unclarified stance on their national identity and the concept of ‘unification’, giving in to uncompromising viewpoints and undermining any chances as gaining the lasting support of the countries that cherish democracy and admire their struggle for survival.
