Taiwanology

Canada's top trade envoy in Taipei, Marie-Louise Hannan, reflects on four decades of Canada-Taiwan ties, growing LNG and offshore wind cooperation, and why Prime Minister Mark Carney's case for middle-power democracies resonates with Taiwan's own search for agency in a fractured world.Episode highlights:00:00 Launching a new diplomat interview series02:44 Arriving in China in 1989, before the Tiananmen incident09:31 Dr. Mackay and the roots of Canada-Taiwan ties12:26 Taiwan as a top Indo-Pacific trade partner15:05 Energy dependence and the case for Canadian LNG20:37 Inside Canada's first ever Indo-Pacific Strategy26:59 Carney's Davos speech and middle-power democracies31:00 Life in Taipei: food, family, and safetyHost: Kwangyin Liu, Deputy Managing Editor, CommonWealth MagazineGuest: Marie-Louise Hannan, Executive Director of Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang＊Read more：https://english.cw.com.tw＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting

In 2025, Taiwan is witnessing an unprecedented wave of citizen-led recall campaigns targeting lawmakers—mostly from the opposition Kuomintang. Branded the “mass recall” movement, it raises a question: is this a genuine expression of civic outrage, or a politically driven power play? To unpack the roots and implications of this political upheaval, we speak with Nathan Batto, political scientist and author of the Frozen Garlic blog. - 8:10 How does the Sunflower Movement connect to today’s recall wave? - 12:02 What sparked this massive recall push? Perspectives from both sides - 18:45 Is the movement truly grassroots—or party-driven? - 21:50 Why hasn’t the KMT been able to mobilize as effectively? - 30:55 Is mass recall Taiwan’s only option for breaking political deadlock? - 34:01 How might the results affect Taiwan’s geopolitical position? Host: Kwangyin Liu, Senior Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: Nathan Batto, Associate Research Fellow at Academia Sinica,   Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Read CommonWealth's explainer on the mass recall and its implications：https://english.cw.com.tw  ＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw 留言告訴我你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cledx9shs004801v3cmkogc7e/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

With Trump's return, the push for tariffs, reshoring, and a "great manufacturing renaissance" is gaining momentum. But what does reindustrialization actually look like—and where does Taiwan fit into this vision? Our guest, Jack Hou, COO of Universal Cement, shares insights from both sides of the Pacific, including how he helped turn around his family business and what it would take to rebuild manufacturing in the U.S. - The mood in Boston and New York about a second Trump term [05:40] - Can high tariffs bring manufacturing back to the U.S.? [13:14] - A case study from Taiwan: How Universal Cement engineered a turnaround [18:17] - What it takes to spark a manufacturing renaissance in America [23:17] - The opportunities for Taiwan to play a role in America's reindustrialization [28:00] Host: Kwangyin Liu, Senior Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: Jack Hou, COO, Universal Cement Corporation Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Read more about Taiwan's manufacturers are rethinking their strategies going forward: https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=4068 ＊Share your thoughts: bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting

Donald Trump’s return to the White House is shaking up the global semiconductor industry. Rumors are swirling that he wants TSMC to bail out Intel, raising big questions about Taiwan’s role in the U.S.-China tech war. Could TSMC realistically “save” its American rival? And what does this mean for Taiwan’s long-term competitiveness and the so-called Silicon Shield? We break it all down with Rocky Uriankhai, a leading expert on geopolitics and tech. - How Taiwan became a semiconductor powerhouse [3:40] - Why are there rumors that Trump wants TSMC to help Intel? [6:45] - Why isn’t TSMC’s U.S. fab expansion enough? [12:10] - What are the real scenarios for TSMC “saving” Intel? [14:30] - Could this jeopardize TSMC’s long-term competitiveness? [19:35] - Why the "Silicon Shield" might not protect Taiwan [25:35] Host: Kwangyin Liu, Senior Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guests: Rocky Uriankhai, CEO of SciTech Power Research ＊Read more about the insider information surrounding TSMC's investment in Intel: https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=3971 ＊Share your thoughts: bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting

Taiwan is renowned for its world-class semiconductor manufacturing, but it’s not often recognized as a hub for software startups. So why did Appier, an AI-driven marketing tech company, choose Taiwan as its base—and how did it become the island’s first AI software unicorn? In this episode, co-founder Chih-han Yu shares the lessons learned from eight (!) failures. - What is Appier, and who are its customers? [4:30] - Eight failures and their lessons [10:54] - The ‘aha’ moment: Combining AI and marketing [14:32] - Why Taiwan? Returning from the U.S. to build a software startup [19:40] - Why Tokyo was the go-to market [26:14] - Looking ahead: How Taiwan can foster more software unicorns [34:00] Host: Kwangyin Liu, Senior Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: Chih-han Yu, CEO and Co-founder of Appier ＊Read more about Appier's journey: https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=2950 ＊Share your thoughts: bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting

Did you know Taiwan’s first Olympic medal was a silver in the decathlon at the 1960 Rome Olympics? CK Yang finished just behind his close friend Rafer Johnson of the US. Their story is one of fierce competition and lifelong camaraderie, now told in the new documentary Decathlon: The CK Yang & Rafer Johnson Story. In this episode, we dive into this incredible tale with journalist Mike Chinoy and producer James Liu of Joint Pictures. - Mike Chinoy shares how he became involved in the project. [01:09] - The filmmakers discuss their decision to use animation to recreate key scenes. [07:25] - Exploring Johnson's reputation in the United States. [16:43] - Insights into the unique friendship between Rafer Johnson and CK Yang. [22:35] - Examining why CK Yang's legacy has faded in Taiwan over time. [28:00] - Reflecting on the significance of this decathlon story in today’s world. [36:38] Host: Kwangyin Liu, Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: Mike Chinoy, former CNN Beijing bureau chief & James Liu, founder of Joint Pictures  Producer: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Read more about Taiwan's participation in the Olympic Games: https://english.cw.com.tw/ ＊Share your thoughts: bill@cw.com.tw 留言告訴我你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cledx9shs004801v3cmkogc7e/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

In this episode, we dive into female entrepreneurship and why it deserves greater attention. How can communities create an environment that enables and empowers women to thrive as business leaders? Our guest, Wingee Sin, Global Program Director of the Cartier Women’s Initiative, shares her inspiring journey. From starting her career in investment banking to transitioning into a global role supporting women's entrepreneurship, Wingee’s path includes a fascinating stint as a chef in renowned restaurants across Paris, Mexico City, and Bangkok. - How Wingee started in the capital markets. [03:43] - Wingee's one year away as a chef. [08:08] - How Wingee discovered Cartier's women initiative. [12:20] - On women entrepreneurship ecosystems in Taiwan and elsewhere. [15:45] - Why and how Cartier supports communities for female entrepreneus. [20:47] Host: Kwangyin Liu, Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: Wingee Sin, Global Program Director, Cartier Women’s Initiative Producer: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Read about how migrant women are enriching Taiwan's economy: https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=3450 ＊Share your thoughts: bill@cw.com.tw 留言告訴我你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cledx9shs004801v3cmkogc7e/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

Where can you experience pilotless aircraft, autonomous cars, and service robots all in one place? Surprisingly, it's not the US or Germany, but China. Today, we sit down with Yixuan Lin to dive into China's remarkable technological strides, even amid international sanctions and mounting global pressures. What does this mean for the rest of the world, and what challenges lie ahead for China's ambitious tech future? 04:05 - What's it like to test-drive Huawei's autonomous car? 06:04 - The sci-fi film like robot expo in Beijing 08:51 - What is the "Made in China 2025" strategy? 13:40 - How does China bypass western sanctions on tech goods? 15:00 - What does Huawei's 2012 R&D compound reveal? 19:54 - Can China continue to prosper despite sanctions? 22:10 - Do sanctions work anyway? Host: Kwangyin Liu, Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: Yixuan Lin, Senior Reporter of CommonWealth Magazine Producer: Weiru Wang ＊Read about China's tech ambitions 2025: https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=3789 ＊Share your thoughts: bill@cw.com.tw 留言告訴我你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cledx9shs004801v3cmkogc7e/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting