Written by Charles R. Charrington. This article re-examines Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan by juxtaposing narratives of modernisation with documented violence. It traces military invasions, massacres, and coercive governance from the late nineteenth century to World War II, while situating them within broader imperial dynamics. Rather than advancing anti-Japanese sentiment, it foregrounds how colonial violence has been obscured despite its centrality to Taiwan’s historical formation.
Written by Yoshitaka Ota. This article argues that the first step toward contributing to Taiwanese peace is to stop creating a common enemy between Taiwan and Japan and to start taking Taiwanese agency seriously. Japan should also exercise its agency to recognise and depart from the permanence of coloniality, which continues to create China as a common enemy, rather than looking at itself as the enemy once.
Written by Gita T. The latest phase of the Southern Taiwan Science Park expansion in Tainan signals a clear shift toward high-tech integration in a city long associated with temples and tradition. This article argues that the question is not whether technology belongs in Tainan, but how this transition is narrated.
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.
Written by Professor Niki J.P. Alsford. Professor Murray Rubinstein significantly advanced Taiwan Studies, advocating for the island’s recognition as a distinct field of study. He resisted easy binaries. Instead, he traced the layered textures of Taiwanese society, showing how they intertwined in ways that demanded careful, nuanced attention. Professor Rubinstein’s legacy endures through his contributions, guidance, and the academic community he nurtured, emphasising the importance of thoughtful scholarship.
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.
