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Taiwanology

Taiwanology

Hosted by Common Wealth Magazine

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Episodes

62

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN

About the show

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. Powered by Firstory Hosting

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60 recent
July 28, 202635 min

Europe's Widening Case for Taiwan, From Chips to Information War【Taiwanology Ep. 62】

TSMC in Dresden. Foxconn in Bordeaux. A German chemicals giant in Kaohsiung. EU-Taiwan industrial ties are deepening fast, and it's mutual: EU states have invested more in Taiwan than the US and Japan combined. EETO head Lutz Güllner explains what Chips Act 2.0 changes, where Taiwan fits into Europe's industrial strategy beyond chips, and how Taiwan's civil society is countering foreign information manipulation.Episode highlights:07:23 How EU-Taiwan relations reached their most active point yet09:09 The EU Council's landmark Taiwan statement17:01 The Industrial Accelerator Act and the EU Chips Act 2.024:15 FIMI: naming foreign information manipulation and interference32:44 Why understanding Taiwanese politics matters for a diplomatHost: Kwangyin Liu, Deputy Managing Editor, CommonWealth MagazineGuest: Lutz Güllner, Head of the European Economic and Trade Office in TaipeiProducers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang＊Read more：https://english.cw.com.tw＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting

June 23, 202635 min

Canada's Envoy on Taiwan: When the World Fractures, Middle Powers Lean In【Taiwanology Ep. 61】

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

May 26, 202643 min

Are We in an AI Bubble? AMD’s Lisa Su speaks out in Taiwan 【Taiwanology Ep.60】

Is the AI boom a bubble? AMD Chair and CEO Lisa Su joins Commonwealth Magazine to share why the AI revolution is just getting started, and why Taiwan remains the center of this universe. Find out why she believes open ecosystems and "AI everywhere" are reshaping our future. Episode highlights:01:45 What's behind AMD's $10B investment in Taiwan and 2nm partnership with TSMC? 06:12 Why is Taiwan the only place that can pull off this level of tech manufacturing? 11:00 "Coopetition": How can supply chain rivals stay friendly with each other? 13:00 Who actually makes money in AI? 22:00 What is "Physical AI" and why is it the next technological wave? 27:00 Open vs. Closed: Which tech ecosystem will grow the fastest? 32:00 – Are we in an AI bubble? Host: Yishan Chen, Editor-in-Chief of CommonWealth MagazineGuest: Lisa Su, CEO of AMD Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang＊Read more：https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=4791＊Share your thoughts：bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting

April 28, 202637 min

Is Taiwan’s bike industry losing its luster? 【Taiwanology Ep.59】

For 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

March 23, 202631 min

Why Audrey Tang Has No Fear for AI Agents and the OpenClaw【Taiwanology Ep.58】

Is 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

March 2, 202636 min

Watching the Dragon: How Taiwan Decodes China’s Internal Fragility 【Taiwanology Ep.57】

As 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

January 27, 202641 min

U.S. Skepticism in Taiwan: From Shared Values to Protection Fees【Taiwanology Ep.56】

Is 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

December 23, 202535 min

Will Europe Choose Taiwan as Trust in China Fades? 【Taiwanology Ep.55】

There 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

December 2, 202529 min

Taiwan’s Growing Climate Voice at Brazil’s COP30【Taiwanology Ep.54】

COP30 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

October 28, 202524 min

Forced Labor? What Taiwan’s Exporters Must Do Next【Taiwanology Ep.53】

In 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

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