China says several dozen countries support its military drills to encircle and threaten Taiwan. China uses brute force and appeals to authoritarian leaders to try to make its false claim over Taiwan real, because it has no legitimate claim. China's actions only causes it to lose credibility.

Previously I've focused on writing about Taiwan's wages, but I've recently also commented on China's threats and Taiwan's sovereignty. I created a short comic using Gemini to explain how Taiwan's wage issues are linked to Taiwan's sovereignty in my perception, and why caring about them is important.

Previously I've focused on writing about Taiwan's wages, but I've recently also commented on China's threats and Taiwan's sovereignty. I created a short comic using Gemini to explain how Taiwan's wage issues are linked to Taiwan's sovereignty in my perception, and why caring about them is important.

​過去我主要專注於撰寫關於台灣薪資議題的文章，但最近我也開始針對中國威脅與台灣主權發表評論。 ​或許有人會好奇為什麼，所以我利用 Gemini 製作了一則短篇漫畫，來解釋在我看來，台灣的薪資議題是如何與主權息息相關，以及為什麼關注這些議題至關重要。

China just announced military drills today to encircle Taiwan. On TikTok, China sells pretty images of its cities to convince people globally of its development. But in reality, China is rehearsing conducting a blockade around Taiwan to use it as a pretext to take over Taiwan.

China launched the 'Justice Mission' military drills today to encircle and threaten Taiwan. But Taiwan has its own 'Justice League' to defend Taiwan from China's threats! (I created these posters using Gemini.) 中國今天發起了「正義使命」軍事演習，企圖包圍並威脅台灣。但台灣也有屬於自己的「正義聯盟」來抵禦中國的威脅，守護台灣！（這些海報是我用 Gemini 製作的。）

中國又再對台發動軍演。。。

面對台灣當前的政治氛圍，我們真的急需讓情緒降溫，開始互相傾聽。 ​現在，不同立場間的對話往往充滿了火藥味，這讓我們更難靜下心來聽見對方的聲音。我利用 Gemini 創作了這兩篇漫畫，是希望能提醒我們自己：傾聽彼此的觀點有多麼重要。 ​如果我們持續內鬥，只會讓中共網軍有機可乘，利用我們的語言來攻擊彼此、製造不信任，進而分化並削弱台灣。我們真的需要找到方法去同理彼此的立場，並尋求共識，這樣才能共同強化台灣的韌性，並改善大家的生活。

中國又再對台發動軍演。。。

面對台灣當前的政治氛圍，我們真的急需讓情緒降溫，開始互相傾聽。 ​現在，不同立場間的對話往往充滿了火藥味，這讓我們更難靜下心來聽見對方的聲音。我利用 Gemini 創作了這兩篇漫畫，是希望能提醒我們自己：傾聽彼此的觀點有多麼重要。 ​如果我們持續內鬥，只會讓中共網軍有機可乘，利用我們的語言來攻擊彼此、製造不信任，進而分化並削弱台灣。我們真的需要找到方法去同理彼此的立場，並尋求共識，這樣才能共同強化台灣的韌性，並改善大家的生活。

I hope what VP Hsiao Bi-khim says is heeded! "Speaking about Friday's indiscriminate attacks near two Taipei metro stations, Hsiao said, they once again highlighted "lingering social anxiety in Taiwan and the need to repair and strengthen the social safety net." focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...

"Multiple Taiwanese businesspeople have said that the Chinese government is pressuring KMT lawmakers to stop Taiwan’s NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.6 billion) special defense budget and national security law amendments via go-betweens in the business community." www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...

Taiwan's opposition parties are calling President Lai Ching-te a dictator. I created a short comic to explain why they are doing so. Of note, the opposition parties are pro-China and have been acting on China's behalf, to try to pass chaotic laws, in order to destabilize Taiwan.

I spoke to TaiwanPlus about why Taiwan's income inequality is high, its impact on society & politics & the need to raise minimum wage faster—because of the risk that disenfranchisement among a segment of voters can lead to distrust with government & weaken Taiwan's defense. youtu.be/zadDKg2KUlY?...

A quick note that while China rejects the San Francisco Peace Treaty, it however considers the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation to be valid (against international norms), and China uses them to claim Taiwan (and Okinawa, if it wants). More on the specific text in this infographic below: 👇

China wants to sign a 'peace treaty' in order to get Taiwan to 'surrender' to China, so that China can claim to be the successor to ROC, and take Taiwan. ROC was the government in China before moving to Taiwan, and China desperately wants the successorship. www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...

China is demanding Japan acknowledge the Cairo/Potsdam Declarations, but these documents not only allow China to use force against Taiwan, but also on Japan. This is why a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency. SEE HOW CHINA MAY START A CONFLICT based on these documents:

I spoke with Radio Taiwan International about Taiwan's low wages and rising cost of living, and how it is a national security concern. www.rti.org.tw/en/programne...

Glad to speak to CNN about Taiwan's low-wage situation: "Taiwan’s economy has seen exceptional growth in recent years – and booming profits among tech businesses – average workers & employees in other sectors have been mostly left out, widening the income disparity." edition.cnn.com/2025/11/28/e...

I've created posters to fight China's propaganda: 1) China's claims over Taiwan have no legal basis. 2) China has a history of misinterpreting and violating international agreements for its own territorial expansion. 3) A simpler version explaining Taiwan's independence.

Thing about pro-CCP people is they try to persuade you by preying on what they think are your fears, but when you insist on using logic, it falls apart and they then resort to calling you names or labeling you as evasive or illogical, even as it is they who display these traits.

As someone who faced political persecution before, it is clear China/CCP's actions against Puma Shen is blatant persecution, and I admire him for continuing to stand up for what is right & his love for Taiwan. For all intents & purposes, Taiwan is an independent country,.. 1/ x.com/josephwutw/s...

Compared with economically similar countries, Taiwan's wages are as low as half of theirs even though profits and housing prices are highest, or even twice as high. Their minimum wages have reached NT$45,000 but this is Taiwan's median wage and minimum wage is lower than NT$30,000.

Compared with economically similar countries, Taiwan's wages are as low as half of theirs even though profits and housing prices are highest, or even twice as high. Their minimum wages have reached NT$45,000 but this is Taiwan's median wage and minimum wage is lower than NT$30,000.

Taiwan's GDP per capita will surpass US$40,000 next year and its GDP per capita and cost of living is also similar to Spain, Slovenia and Japan today. But how do Taiwan's wages at the low and middle-income compare—I explore the data in this newest article. ketagalanmedia.com/2025/10/31/t...

Taiwan's GDP per capita will surpass US$40,000 next year and its GDP per capita and cost of living is also similar to Spain, Slovenia and Japan today. But how do Taiwan's wages at the low and middle-income compare—I explore the data in this newest article. ketagalanmedia.com/2025/10/31/t...

相較於那些人均 GDP 與生活成本相近的國家，台灣的薪資甚至只有它們的一半，儘管台灣的企業利潤與房價卻是最高的，且房價甚至更高出兩倍。若要達到與其他國家相當的水平，台灣的最低工資應該要提升至每月新台幣 45,000 元，但這卻是目前台灣的薪資中位數。

相較於那些人均 GDP 與生活成本相近的國家，台灣的薪資甚至只有它們的一半，儘管台灣的企業利潤與房價卻是最高的，且房價甚至更高出兩倍。若要達到與其他國家相當的水平，台灣的最低工資應該要提升至每月新台幣 45,000 元，但這卻是目前台灣的薪資中位數。

在這篇新文章中，我寫到台灣的人均 GDP 預計明年將超過 4 萬美元，而台灣目前的人均 GDP 與生活成本已與西班牙、斯洛維尼亞及日本相當。然而，台灣的薪資水平相比之下如何？ ——我比較了台灣的低薪與薪資中位數（包括稅後收入），以及各產業部門的薪資，來觀察台灣與這些國家的差距。 西班牙、斯洛維尼亞和日本目前的最低工資水準相近，而既然臺灣的人均 GDP 也與這些國家相當，理論上其最低工資也應該達到類似的水準——但實際上真的是如此嗎？ www.thenewslens.com/article/260202

在這篇新文章中，我寫到台灣的人均 GDP 預計明年將超過 4 萬美元，而台灣目前的人均 GDP 與生活成本已與西班牙、斯洛維尼亞及日本相當。然而，台灣的薪資水平相比之下如何？ ——我比較了台灣的低薪與薪資中位數（包括稅後收入），以及各產業部門的薪資，來觀察台灣與這些國家的差距。 西班牙、斯洛維尼亞和日本目前的最低工資水準相近，而既然臺灣的人均 GDP 也與這些國家相當，理論上其最低工資也應該達到類似的水準——但實際上真的是如此嗎？ www.thenewslens.com/article/260202

As a long-time resident in Taiwan, it's clear that Lai Ching-te's rhetoric of Taiwan hasn't substantially changed from Tsai Ing-wen. What has clearly changed is the CCP has up its tempo with its aggression against Taiwan. This is clear when analyzing the data. 1/ www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...

As a long-time resident in Taiwan, it's clear that Lai Ching-te's rhetoric of Taiwan hasn't substantially changed from Tsai Ing-wen. What has clearly changed is the CCP has up its tempo with its aggression against Taiwan. This is clear when analyzing the data. 1/ www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...

Wow, there is now a Kaohsiung Bridge in Germany! www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/20...

​提醒一下，台灣往往習慣用「中國」這個視角作為分析許多議題的切入點。但若是以「中國」的框架去分析國際或其他國家的事件，而沒有充分考量當地社會更核心、更具影響力的議題，那麼台灣人可能就無法對這些議題做出完整、批判性的評估，忽略了其他國家在自身事務中所重視的重要面向。可以理解的是，台灣人對中國的威脅感使得「中國議題」顯得格外重要，但若在分析國際事件時過度投射（或套用）「中國因素」，反而可能妨礙對全球事件的深入理解。

What is the Taiwan Tourism Administration trying to do here though? Help to promote Bangkok's BTS station?

Taiwan ah, if you are just going to spend good money to put these little, little stickers on top of a station control at a Bangkok BTS station, or next to a clock or station name signage, maybe don't bother? No context, no excitement—what waves are you creating here?

I think I've lost hope that Taiwan's government will grow its minimum wage in alignment with its democratic principles of enshrining human and labor rights—when it keeps growing wages so slowly while allowing excessive profit accumulation for the rich. www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...

1/ After researching and writing several articles on wages, you see that it's possible for a system where everyone gets rich and businesses will benefit too. Unfortunately, we've been told a zero-sum mentality where if others get richer, those at the top will become poorer.

It's outrageous that consumer prices in shopping malls, restaurants/cafes & supermarkets in many developing nations are as expensive as developed ones, but wages are way lower. How can developing country governments in good conscience claim that wages cannot grow faster as it would hurt businesses?

The problem with how many organizations recommend growth is via a top-down approach, such as by building institutions, but how can you build them without building capacity, without raising wages faster? The middle-income trap isn't just a problem of institutions, it's fundamentally about low wages.

The problem with how many organizations recommend growth is via a top-down approach, such as by building institutions, but how can you build them without building capacity, without raising wages faster? The middle-income trap isn't just a problem of institutions, it's fundamentally about low wages.

Everytime I travel to an Asian city for work, I think it's such a pity the elites don't realize that when everyone are paid better wages & their livelihoods are uplifted, this can make their city much more liveable, safer & happier. Such potential sacrificed by short-sightedness.

The recall has awakened the anxieties of many DPP supporters, but it's also an opportunity for the DPP government to review the vision for Taiwan. How can Taiwan's democracy enable a more equal economy, and to allow Taiwan's economy to protect the rights of as many as possible?

台灣執政政府能否從困住其核心支持者的恐懼與意識形態中走出來？ 當台灣選民變得越來越恐懼和焦慮時，政府能創造一個怎樣的願景，來凝聚更多人，並盡可能地減少更多人的焦慮？ 罷免喚醒了許多民進黨支持者的恐懼與焦慮，但這同時也是民進黨政府重新檢視、審思台灣願景的契機。 政府能有多大的覺悟？

台灣執政政府能否從困住其核心支持者的恐懼與意識形態中走出來？ 當台灣選民變得越來越恐懼和焦慮時，政府能創造一個怎樣的願景，來凝聚更多人，並盡可能地減少更多人的焦慮？ 罷免喚醒了許多民進黨支持者的恐懼與焦慮，但這同時也是民進黨政府重新檢視、審思台灣願景的契機。 政府能有多大的覺悟？

In this new article, I write that middle-ground voters did not come out to vote for Taiwan's recall, and this reminds the DPP and President Lai Ching-te that they need to do more to address the livelihood needs of voters (wages and housing) to regain their trust. ketagalanmedia.com/2025/09/03/t...

如果台灣民主的主要支持者同時也是那些想要以他人為代價來保護自身財富的人，那麼台灣就正面臨一個巨大的問題。民主不可能在一方面要強化民主、另一方面卻又要為富人累積過多財富，這兩個目標是互不相容的。如果台灣民主的支持者無法將台灣的經濟議程與民主相結合，那麼強化民主的目標終將註定失敗。

如果台灣民主的主要支持者同時也是那些想要以他人為代價來保護自身財富的人，那麼台灣就正面臨一個巨大的問題。民主不可能在一方面要強化民主、另一方面卻又要為富人累積過多財富，這兩個目標是互不相容的。如果台灣民主的支持者無法將台灣的經濟議程與民主相結合，那麼強化民主的目標終將註定失敗。

In this new article, I write that middle-ground voters did not come out to vote for Taiwan's recall, and this reminds the DPP and President Lai Ching-te that they need to do more to address the livelihood needs of voters (wages and housing) to regain their trust. ketagalanmedia.com/2025/09/03/t...

新文章的結論:台灣需要重新理解民主與資本主義,及其與平等與勞工權益的關係 文章全文: www.thenewslens.com/article/257722