Podcast
Taiwanology
Hosted by Common Wealth Magazine · EN
The Taiwanology podcast is produced by Taiwan’s CommonWealth Magazine, where we discuss Taiwan’s geopolitics, technology and culture, and why they matter to the rest of the world.
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12episodes
Episodes
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Is Taiwan’s bike industry losing its luster? 【Taiwanology Ep.59】
3w ago00:37:09Tap to summarizeFor decades, Taiwan has been known as the “Bicycle Kingdom.” But it is now under mounting pressure. From the rapid rise of China’s e-bike giants to a growing push in Europe to reshore manufacturing, Taiwan’s bike industry is entering a period of change. How can it navigate this new landscape?Episode highlights:04:20 How Taiwan became the “Bicycle Kingdom”07:20 Why China is not the only challenge facing Taiwan’s bike industry12:30 Bridging traditional manufacturing with ICT capabilities21:35 How Taiwan should respond to Europe’s reshoring push25:10 Why more Taiwanese companies are becoming open to change27:05 Adapting to the emerging e-bike ecosystem33:20 Why Anchor Global is launching an Industry Lab with Walmart as the pilot caseHost: Kwangyin Liu, Deputy Managing Editor of CommonWealth MagazineGuest: Elisa Chiu, founder of Anchor GlobalProducers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang＊Read more：https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=4684＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting
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Why Audrey Tang Has No Fear for AI Agents and the OpenClaw【Taiwanology Ep.58】
Mar 2300:31:39Tap to summarizeIs artificial intelligence a threat to human agency, or an opportunity for civic innovation? 2025 Right Livelihood Laureate and Taiwan Cyber Ambassador Audrey Tang discusses the shift from algorithms to symbiotic "local Kami" AI. Find out why she has no fear for AI agents and OpenClaw. It’s a masterclass in staying human in a world of synthetic intimacy, with one life hack that will help you sleep better.[05:46] How Audrey "translated" the Taiwan model to be adopted in California[09:40] How her book inspired Anno to run for Tokyo Governor[12:05] What do "Civic AI" and "6 Pack of Care" have to do with AI anxiety?[14:20] How Civic AI principles played out in Taiwan's combat on fraud[20:50] Why conflict is not a bug but a power source[24:15] When AI agents do all the jobs, what's left for humans?Host: Kwangyin Liu, Deputy Managing Editor of CommonWealth MagazineGuest: Audrey Tang, Taiwan Cyber AmbassadorProducers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Read more on Audrey’s take on AI: https://civic.ai/＊Read more on Audrey’s take on AI: https://civic.ai/openclaw/＊Read more: https://english.cw.com.tw＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting
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Watching the Dragon: How Taiwan Decodes China’s Internal Fragility 【Taiwanology Ep.57】
Mar 200:36:58Tap to summarizeAs China becomes increasingly opaque, how can Taiwan maintain a clear-eyed perspective? We are joined by Professor Tao to dissect the China Monitoring Report by Thinking Taiwan Foundation. They move past the headlines to analyze 50 indicators across economy, finance, and society, revealing a dual-speed reality and rising systemic social unrest. [03:00] Thinking Taiwan 2.0: Former President Tsai Ing-wen’s platform for policy analysis [05:53] The 50-Indicator Framework [16:16] Dual-Speed Economy: Record exports vs. trapped savings [20:30] How China’s low consumption triggers global de-industrialization [22:05] Record-low birth rates and the rise of "systemic unfairness" grievances [30:50] Why Xi prioritizes military/tech over social welfare stimulus Host: Kwangyin Liu, Deputy Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: Yifen Tao, Associate Professor of National Taiwan University Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Read more: https://english.cw.com.tw ＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting
Transcribe →U.S. Skepticism in Taiwan: From Shared Values to Protection Fees【Taiwanology Ep.56】
Jan 2700:41:05Tap to summarizeIs Taiwan’s biggest ally still reliable? For years, the U.S. and Taiwan were "best friends" because of democracy. But now, the conversation has changed to "protection fees" and business deals. This shift is creating a wave of U.S. skepticism across the island. We look at why people in Taiwan feel anxious and what happens to Taiwan’s security when friendship becomes a transaction. [00:34] Why Taiwan’s mood is a global warning sign. [01:43] The "might makes right" dynamic at Davos. [07:33] The shift from "shared values" to "protection fees." [11:43] Understanding the gap between anxiety and trust. [18:24] Is moving chip capacity to the U.S. a dangerous move? [34:47] The U.S. warning: Pay more to be "worth defending." Host: Kwangyin Liu, Senior Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: William Yang, Senior Analyst of the International Crisis Group Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Read more: https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action ＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting
Transcribe →Will Europe Choose Taiwan as Trust in China Fades? 【Taiwanology Ep.55】
Dec 2300:35:11Tap to summarizeThere is historic shift in Europe-Taiwan ties. From Ukraine war to the "Trump factor," we examine why Brussels is looking past old constraints of its One China policy. A new paper asks if Taiwan can turn symbolic support into economic substance Europe now needs for resilience. 01:50 - The explosion in Taiwan-EU interactions 04:00 - How global instability sobered up EU policy toward Taiwan 17:20 - Mapping 30 nations' attitudes 23:30 - Why EU leaders are vocal about Taiwan 28:10 - The shift from symbolism to economic security 34:10 - Why Taiwan must move from a subject of debate to an active partner Host: Kwangyin Liu, Senior Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guests: Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, Visiting Fellow at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies Matej Šimalčík, Executive Director of Central European Institute of Asian Studies Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Read more: https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=4394 ＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting
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Taiwan’s Growing Climate Voice at Brazil’s COP30【Taiwanology Ep.54】
Dec 200:29:22Tap to summarizeCOP30 wrapped in Belém after two weeks, and the final deal landed with a weak punch. No fossil-fuel phaseout, no major breakthrough. So what does this outcome mean? And with Taiwan hosting an unprecedented pavilion in the Green Zone, what role is Taiwan carving out in global climate politics? In this episode, I speak with climate scientist Rachel Cleetus and NGO worker Jack Huang to break it down. 3:08 — Is clean energy development on track for 1.5°C? 8:10 — Why doesn’t Taiwan have a country pavilion? 11:38 — How did Taiwan secure a presence in the Green Zone? 15:10 — Why should Taiwan care about COP at all? 22:15 — Why the climate crisis isn’t a zero-sum game Host: Kwangyin Liu, Senior Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: Rachel Cleetus, Union of Concerned Scientists and Jack Huang, Project Coordinator of United Nations OICT Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Read our COP30 coverage： https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=4446 ＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting
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Forced Labor? What Taiwan’s Exporters Must Do Next【Taiwanology Ep.53】
Oct 2800:24:21Tap to summarizeIn September, U.S. Customs hit Taiwan's Giant with a Withhold Release Order—the first ever against a Taiwanese company—blocking its bikes from entering the U.S. over alleged forced labor. The move puts over US$1 billion in exports at risk and exposes gaps between Taiwan’s labor laws and global standards. What must Taiwan do to rebuild trust in its supply chains? 3:30 – Why is the broker system a high-risk factor for forced labor? 6:28 – What steps can Giant take to resume U.S. exports? 10:55 – Why is there a gap between Taiwan’s labor laws and global standards? 12:50 – What actions should Taiwanese companies take to improve? 20:50 – Story of an employer who covers recruitment fees for her worker. Host: Kwangyin Liu, Senior Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: CC Wu, trade compliance consultant of PwC Taiwan Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Read about Taiwan's migrant workers：https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=3597 ＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting
Transcribe →【Taiwanology Ep.52】Seeking Peace in Taiwan: An Israeli and a Palestinian in Dialogue
Sep 2300:42:39Tap to summarizeAs the world marks two years since the October 7 conflict, peace feels more distant than ever. Israeli peace educator Roi Silberberg and Palestinian scholar Hazem Almassry share deeply personal stories—from childhood in Gaza to life in a shared Jewish-Arab village. They reflect on Gaza’s devastation, Israel’s militarized “normal,” and Taiwan’s own security, arguing that peace begins not with agreements, but with dialogue. 03:00 — Hazem’s childhood in Gaza and path to Taiwan 09:50 — Roi’s journey into peace education 20:15 — Family under siege: Hazem's life and loss in Gaza 30:56 — The fellows' Kinmen visit and Taiwan’s “front line” identity 35:00 — The power in the choice of word "genocide" Host: Kwangyin Liu, Senior Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guests: Hazem Almassry, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Academia Sinica Roi Silberberg, Director of School for Peace Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Read about Taiwan： https://english.cw.com.tw ＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting
Transcribe →【Taiwanology Ep.51】Why is Nuclear Power Back on Taiwan’s Agenda?
Aug 2700:32:52Tap to summarizeTaiwan is at an energy crossroads. After decades of debate, a recent referendum revealed that over 70% favor restarting its last nuclear power plant. What does this shift mean for Taiwan’s energy security? We sit down with Danny Chang, former chairman of Star Buck Power Corp, to unpack Taiwan’s nuclear dilemma and why the island is rethinking its position on nuclear power. 0:00 – How Taiwan’s latest referendum sparks debate on nuclear power 6:00 – Why Taiwan’s anti-nuclear stance is rooted in history 10:30 – Shifting opinions: costs, climate change, and rising power demand 17:04 – Japan and the U.S. show how nuclear comebacks happen 24:27 – Can renewables meet Taiwan’s ambitious energy goals? Host: Kwangyin Liu, Senior Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: Kuor hsin Chang, former Chairman of Star Buck Power Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Tracking Taiwan's nuclear debates：https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=4287 ＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting
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【Taiwanology Ep.50】What Taiwan’s Largest Drills Reveal About Its Defense Strategy
Jul 2200:29:43Tap to summarizeTaiwan’s largest military exercise, the Han Kuang drills, now includes a supermarket chain helping with evacuation plans. With China’s military pressure near-constant, Taiwan is expanding its defense strategy to include asymmetric warfare, civil defense, and psychological readiness. Silva Shih, CommonWealth Magazine's defense reporter, joins us to explain how Taiwan is preparing—and what could still be missing. - 3:10 Why does Taiwan’s defense conversation feel more urgent this year? - 8:08 The major trends observed through a PLA activities dashboard - 14:20 What's new with this year's Han Kuang military drills? - 19:45 Taiwan’s largest supermarket chain joined the drills. What does that tell us? - 22:16 How worried should Taiwan be about a blockade or gray-zone harassments? Host: Kwangyin Liu, Senior Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: Silva Shih, Senior Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Check out CommonWealth's PLA activities dashboard: https://www.cw.com.tw/graphics/pla-activities-around-taiwan-en/ ＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting
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