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“The Assassin” Review

Last May, when Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-Hsien (侯孝賢) won “Best Director” at the Cannes Film Festival for his wuxia film “The Assassin” (《刺客聶隱娘》), my interest was immediately piqued. As an avid martial artist, I wanted to watch a martial arts film that was highly praised by international film critics, especially since it had been produced … Continue reading “The Assassin” Review

#Talk4TW – Dwagie (大支)

Ever since rapper Dwagie (大支) shocked Taiwan with his unapologetic rhymes about identity in 2002 (Taiwan Song), he has only continued to break through walls, becoming the only artist to have collaborated with both Nas (Refuse to Listen) and the Dalai Lama (People). Dwagie’s songs are often inspired by social and political issues and events, … Continue reading #Talk4TW – Dwagie (大支)

Taiwan-US International Engagement: The Global Cooperation Training Framework and Beyond

Photo Credit: East Asia-Pacific Bureau of the State Department Opening Remarks: Lyushun Shen - Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the United States. Keynote Remarks: Bruce Linghu - Deputy Foreign Minister, Taiwan Kurt Tong - Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. State Department Panel Discussion: Josh M.Cartin - Chief, Economic Section, American … Continue reading Taiwan-US International Engagement: The Global Cooperation Training Framework and Beyond

Don’t Ask About My Ethnicity; Ask About Me

Featured Photo Credit: Ted Thai/TIME Magazine Last semester, I applied to attend a conflict resolution conference that brings together young representatives from China, Taiwan, and the U.S. to discuss cross-strait relations. Having spent much of my life studying the controversial status of Taiwan and the various perspectives surrounding it, I was excited to use my … Continue reading Don’t Ask About My Ethnicity; Ask About Me

Taiwan at UPenn: Empowering the future through learning from the past

Outreach for Taiwan kicked off 2016 with a visit to University of Pennsylvania to speak with Penn Taiwanese Society (PTS) about past student movements in Taiwan. In 2015, universities across the nation have been filled with students speaking out about racism and police brutality. There were protests such as “Die-In” demonstrations  while mass social media … Continue reading Taiwan at UPenn: Empowering the future through learning from the past

Taiwanese K-pop Celebrity Apologizes for Claiming to be Taiwanese

Less than 24 hours before the big Taiwanese presidential election, a harrowing video appeared on the Internet. 16 year-old K-pop star Chou Tzu-Yu (周子瑜) stands in front of the camera and begins her talk with an apologetic bow. Chou goes on to state that there is only one China and that both sides of the … Continue reading Taiwanese K-pop Celebrity Apologizes for Claiming to be Taiwanese

5 Things to Know About Taiwan – 2015

As 2015 draws to a close, we look back on a year filled with local protests, controversies, and presidential campaigns. Here are 5 issues you must know about if anyone asks you about what happened in Taiwan in 2015: 5. Economic Agreements On March 30, the Ma administration applied for Taiwan to join the Asian … Continue reading 5 Things to Know About Taiwan – 2015

Stop Storming Government Buildings, Start Storming Voting Booths

Feature Photo Credit: www.dronethusiast.com In the wake of the Occupy Parliament movement that was led by Lin Fei-­fan and Chen Wei-­ting, I met with congressional aides in Washington D.C. One of the legislative aides asked me, “How do I explain to people the legitimacy of the students since they are illegally entering and occupying a government … Continue reading Stop Storming Government Buildings, Start Storming Voting Booths