Taiwan Salon

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Associate Adrienne Wu interviews Dr. Jerry C. Y. Liu, dean of the College of Humanities at the National Taiwan University of Arts and the founding president of Taiwan Association of Cultural Policy Studies (TACPS). For our season three premiere, we speak with Dr. Liu about TACPS’ recent cultural petition, recommendations for the incoming administration, and reflections on the 2024 elections.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Associate Adrienne Wu interviews Dr. Gary Rawnsley, head of University of Lincoln’s School of Social and Political Sciences, and Diana Chiawen Lee, an award-winning independent film producer and documentary filmmaker. Despite Taiwan’s vibrant and unique culture, the country struggles with communicating its story to international audiences. For our season two finale, we discuss how to better present Taiwan’s culture abroad and communicate its soft power capacity.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Associate Adrienne Wu and former GTI Program Associate Zoë Weaver-Lee interview Clarissa Wei, a freelance journalist and the author of Made in Taiwan: Recipes and Stories from the Island Nation. From bubble tea to beef noodle soup, Taiwanese food is a huge draw for tourists and an excellent way of introducing Taiwan’s culture to the world. But can food tell the story of Taiwan? During this episode, we discuss Taiwanese cuisine and how it connects to Taiwanese identity and history.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Associate Adrienne Wu and Summer Fellow Jonah Landsman interview Annie Huang, the regional project leader at Greenpeace East Asia. Taiwan’s vibrant civil society not only sets Taiwan apart from China, but also showcases Taiwan’s commitment to protecting human rights and holding the government accountable to its citizens. During this episode, we discuss what makes Taiwanese civil society unique and the challenges NGOs face when making transnational connections.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Associate Adrienne Wu and Program Manager Marshall Reid interview Lanhee Chen, a GTI Advisor and the David and Diane Steffy Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. During this special AAPI heritage month episode, we speak with Dr. Chen about Taiwanese American identity, Taiwan as a bipartisan issue, and the role that Taiwanese Americans can play in US-Taiwan relations.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Assistant Adrienne Wu interviews Chiayo Kuo, the founder and president of the Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Association (TDDA). In an increasingly digitized and globalized world, social media has become an important tool for public diplomacy. During this episode, we speak with Chiayo Kuo about why digital outreach is important for Taiwan and TDDA’s upcoming projects.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Assistant Adrienne Wu interviews sociologist and academic researcher Dr. Agnes Ling-yu Hsiao. In 2018, the Taiwanese government established a Transitional Justice Commission (TJC) to examine illegal acts committed during the White Terror period, and to provide victims with compensation. For this first episode of season two, we discuss why transitional justice is vital for Taiwan's process of nation building, as well as future steps following the Transitional Justice Commission’s dissolution in 2022.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Assistant Adrienne Wu interviews three representatives of Taiwan's emerging news media: Sara Lin, director of public Relations for Taiwan Plus News; Natalie Tso, host and producer at Radio Taiwan International; and Emily Y. Wu, co-founder and CEO of Ghost Island Media. While growing interest in cross-Strait relations has led to greater international coverage of Taiwan, many western media sources still focus on Taiwan from a narrow perspective on military and political developments. For this special panel episode, we explore media narratives surrounding Taiwan, and discuss how to broaden the conversation to include other aspects of Taiwan's diverse society.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Assistant Adrienne Wu and Program Assistant Zoe Weaver-Lee interview Dr. Awi Mona, Associate Professor of Law and Indigenous Studies at National Dong Hwa University. Taiwan’s cultural policies have aimed to expand the definition of Taiwanese to be more multicultural. In this episode, Dr. Awi discusses how Taiwan’s indigenous communities have been treated domestically and how they factor into Taiwan’s image internationally.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Assistant Adrienne Wu and Program Assistant Zoe Weaver-Lee interview Weining Hung, the co-founder of LUCfest, an annual music festival that seeks to showcase new talent, as well as to connect Taiwan's musicians with international audiences and the broader global music industry. Ms. Hung discusses the barriers faced by Taiwan’s music industry, and how both the government and industry professionals are facing these challenges.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Assistant Adrienne Wu and Program Assistant Zoe Weaver-Lee interview Dr. Alan Bairner, a professor of Sport and Social Theory at Loughborough University (UK). In the conversation, Dr. Bairner discusses the role of sports in cultural diplomacy, as well as the challenges and opportunities faced by Taiwan in relation to hosting and participating in international sporting events.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Assistant Adrienne Wu and Program Manager Marshall Reid interview Dr. Randall L. Nadeau, the executive director of the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange, commonly known as Fulbright Taiwan. Discussing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Confucius Institute closures, Dr. Nadeau talks about trends of interest in academic exchanges between the United States and Taiwan.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Assistant Adrienne Wu and Program Manager Marshall Reid interview Dr. Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao, the chairman of the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation and the chairman of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at National Chengchi University. Dr. Hsiao discusses the importance of people-to-people ties in Taipei’s New Southbound Policy and how NGOs complement work being done by the government.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Assistant Adrienne Wu and Program Manager Marshall Reid interview Dr. Lung-chih Chang, the director of the National Museum of Taiwan History (NMTH). Emphasizing the importance of creating a "museum of the people," Dr. Chang talks about how the NMTH curates its exhibits and collaborates internationally.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Assistant Adrienne Wu and Program Manager Marshall Reid interview Dr. Chun-ying Wei, a board member of the Taiwan Association of Cultural Policy Studies and an assistant professor at National Sun Yat-Sen University. Dr. Wei discusses Taiwan’s National Cultural Congress, culture white papers, and the government’s current approach to cultural policy.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Assistant Adrienne Wu and Program Assistant Zoe Weaver-Lee interview Dr. Shelley Rigger, a GTI advisor, interim vice president for academic affairs, and the Brown Professor of Political Science at Davidson College. Addressing the strengths and limitations of using democratic values as a source of soft power, Dr. Rigger discusses how democratic values tie into the Taiwanese identity and contribute to the island’s international engagement.

In this episode of Taiwan Salon, host and GTI Research Assistant Adrienne Wu and Program Assistant Zoe Weaver-Lee interview Minister Audrey Tang, the digital minister of Taiwan. To kick off the season, Minister Tang discusses Taiwan’s aptitude for collaboration across diversity and how digital tools can strengthen democracy and augment diplomacy.

Hosted by members of GTI’s staff, Taiwan Salon will examine Taiwan’s cultural policy and approach to soft power from perspectives both inside and outside the government. Make sure to join us as we discuss how Taiwan’s unique history and culture interacts with policy and outline opportunities and challenges for future “soft” engagement between Taiwan and the United States.