Some advice about working in the field of Taiwan Studies
"Compared to [China Studies, Japan Studies and Korea Studies], Taiwan Studies is much more politically sensitive, smaller in size, and younger in age, though of increasing importance. As a result, much of the research funding and programme infrastructure supporting other regional fields is still underdeveloped for the field of Taiwan Studies."
https://taiwanwatcher.substack.com/p/taiwan-studies-as-a-field-of-activism
Jenna Lynn Cody reviews Mark Harrison and Catherine Chou's book Revolutionary Taiwan
"Revolutionary Taiwan understands this [the PRC is the aggressor state], and gives the reader all the reasons they need to understand and appreciate Taiwan’s struggle for what it really is: a struggle for identity and dignity."
https://open.substack.com/pub/laorencha/p/book-review-revolutionary-taiwan
Interview with Dr Chun-yi Lee of the Nottingham University about the development of Taiwan Studies. Dr Lee is director of the Taiwan Studies program at Nottingham which publishes the online magazine Taiwan Insight
https://taiwaninsight.org/2026/03/06/defining-taiwan-studies/
New report on Australia-Taiwan relations by the United States Studies Centre at University of Sydney
"In Australia, the use of caution as the default framework for engagement with Taipei, along with our longstanding reductionist debate, has fundamentally hampered any crafting of a sophisticated long-term policy position on Taiwan."
https://www.ussc.edu.au/australia-taiwan-relations-policy-options-and-priorities-for-engagement
Just published: Public Support for Taiwan’s Bluebird Movement and Legislative Reform
"This study examines how independent voters differed from partisan voters in their responses to one of the most defining political moments in recent years, the legislative reform, and the subsequent Bluebird movement, one of the largest social protests in Taiwan since 2014."
New book: U.S. Allies and the Taiwan Strait - available for free download
"Against the backdrop of worsening tensions across the Taiwan Strait, this Element analyzes the positions and policies vis-à-vis Taiwan of six major democratic US treaty allies-Japan, Australia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, Germany-and the European Union."
📚 Some notable books about Taiwan published in 2025
I would add Lev Nachman's book 'Contested Taiwan' to the list
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2026/01/01/2003849850
Changing Dynamics in Geopolitics: Implications for Taiwan - book available for free download
Dr Alexander Tan's talk on political polarisation in Taiwan delivered at the 2025 ANU Taiwan update. The talk analyses what drives polarisation in Taiwan and some possible solutions
#Taiwan #TaiwanStudies #democracy #politics #DPP #KMT #ANU #台灣 #政治
I have been at ANU for the past two days for the Taiwan Update. It finished with a screening of the film Gaga. It is a beautiful and meaningful portrayal of contemporary life in a Tayal village in Taiwan. Dr Alexander Tan's talk on political polarisation was also very thought provoking.
David on Formosa
