IPAC Statement on President Lai's Cancelled Visit to Eswatini: China's coordinated coercion of African nations [Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar] to block Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's flight path reveals a relentless drive to isolate Taiwan, now extending to an attempt to control the skies.

Officials from the government in #China have been praising the countries which have denied flyover permission for the plane carrying the President of #Taiwan, causing him to cancel his trip to Eswatini. The government in #Taipei has blamed #Beijing for pressuring countries into doing this.

What is the State of the World’s Human Rights today? Our report examines 144 countries and paints a picture of States playing with a fire that threatens to scorch the future for generations to come. Read more: amn.st/63321B6A1y7

Cartoon on China's Xi met with Cheng Li-yuan, chair of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang 漫画《鄭麗文與習近平會面》

Cheng Li-wun's startled response to a CCP official's comment on having "viewed her vids" led netizens on a mad scramble to uncover her past — from being an activist denouncing the KMT's inhumane treatment of the #Taiwanese in 1989, to dressing up as a #bunny for Lien Chan's farewell banquet in 2005.

🚨 NEW REPORT 🚨 In ‘Taiwan matters’, Joe Keary, Nathan Attrill, Mark Harrison and Marc Ablong warn that even a limited Taiwan Strait disruption could trigger a global shock far exceeding recent crises, including the Middle East conflict, with direct consequences for Australia. 🔖: bit.ly/4sUcx9p

"Hundreds Demonstrate Against the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial's Commemoration of a Dead Dictator" by @brianhioe.bsky.social

A recent trending hashtag in Taiwan has been #補課 (bu-ke) or #台灣史補課 (Taiwan li-shi bu-ke)—roughly “make-up class” or “make-up homework”. Writing for the Taiwan arts and culture feed of @newbloommag.net, I review "A Foggy Tale"《大濛》in the context of my own bu-ke: nomanisanis.land/a-foggy-tale... 🧋

The best cycling site in Taiwan. Now updated. Absolutely lovely. taiwancycle100.com

Huge breaking news: Ko Wen-Je sentenced to 17 years in prison. This will have huge implications for the future of Taiwan’s domestic politics.

Small thread. This latest survey is is line with previous similar polls: - a wide majority of Taiwanese people identify as Taiwanese only (61%), - a wide majority (59%) say they would resist Chinese invasion even without US help, - a clear majority (54%) agrees with raising the defense budget. 1/3

A book review of Revolutionary #Taiwan by Catherine Lila Chou and Mark Harrison laorencha.substack.com/p/book-revie...

The latest issue of @freedomhouse.bsky.social's China Dissent Monitor reports that protest activity in China increased significantly in 2025 freedomhouse.org/report/china...

This is a very interesting new paper in Nature about the role that feed algorithms on X play in influencing political attitudes. No paywall: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The story of a Malaysian student who was imprisoned in Taiwan for 12 years on false charges during the White Terror period [Warning: descriptions of torture] mekongreview.com/cautionary-t...

BREAKING: Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy former Hong Kong media tycoon and a fierce critic of Beijing, is sentenced to 20 years in prison in one of the most prominent cases prosecuted under a China-imposed national security law.

New report on Australia-Taiwan relations by @usstudiescentre.bsky.social advocates for Australia to deepen its relationship with Taiwan www.ussc.edu.au/australia-ta...

I am thrilled to share our newest peer-reviewed work, "Feeling Blue: Public Support for Taiwan’s Bluebird Movement and Legislative Reform" with @poscwty1.bsky.social & Hannah June Kim, out now at China Quarterly! A🧵on Taiwanese public opinion & independent voters: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Two books on civil society & how change will likely happen in China, and why advocates for human rights and democracy shouldn't lose hope. Imprisoned organizer of the Citizens Movement, Xu Zhiyong, is an eloquent writer whose book will soon be released in English. chinachange.org/2026/01/31/o...

Op-ed by Taiwan's representative in Australia Douglas Hsu, in response to PRC ambassador Xiao Qian: www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/u...

The China Dissent Monitor, a project of @freedomhouse.bsky.social, is the only public database of protest events in China. It helps to explain economic, social, and political trends in China freedomhouse.org/article/qa-a...

2025’s Top Ten Taiwanese films, as selected by the editors of New Bloom and Cinema Escapist! nomanisanis.land/the-10-best-...

Japan: “military exercises” “increase tensions” “dialogue” Philippines: “coercion” “intimidation” “distorted rule of international law” “fragile geopolitical environment” The Philippine text names the pathology, not just the symptom.

A good example of how "lefties" are totally down for imperialism and war, if the PRC is doing it. The US isn't trying to pry Taiwan from China, because China doesn't own it. Rather, the Taiwanese don't want to be annexed to the PRC, and nations around them are supporting them.

My column for today on the illiberal ASPI piece on the possibility of erosion of liberal democracy by the Lai administration. www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...

My column today on Okinawa and Taiwan www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...

The fall of civil society in #HongKong is chilling. SD's earlier study on how NGOs, unions, media, and religious groups were shut down in 2021 reveals the earlier steps, with the recent closure of its main opposition continuing the fall of free HK. safeguarddefenders.com/en/blog/ccp-...

I review Nathan Batto and Emily Beaulieu's book about brawling in legislatures in #Taiwan, #Ukraine and beyond! laorencha.substack.com/p/book-revie...

Frozen Garlic explains how Taiwan has entered a constitutional crisis frozengarlic.wordpress.com/2025/12/17/c...

The guilty verdict against Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai has been strongly condemned by rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

My column for today. The Rednote ban in Taiwan boils down to one simple fact: it has no offices in Taiwan, and cannot be regulated under local law. That imposes an either/or choice on the authorities. www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...

A new museum/library in Taichung with innovative architecture

#HongKong: With short notice, 2 years after his sham trial began, the verdict in Jimmy Lai’s trial is set for Monday, 15/12. Given his age, prison conditions, and deteriorating health, every day he stays in jail risks his life. It’s time for democracies, especially 🇬🇧 and 🇺🇸, to act for his release.

The sexual harassment of @carmenlau.bsky.social, Ted Hui and his family marks a sordid new low in the #HongKong government’s campaign of #transnationalrepression against activists. We stand with them and call for protection against this despicable behaviour. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

The World #Indigenous Traditional Games kicks off in #Taiwan today! The mascot is inspired by the Formosan wild boar, a symbol of strength, endurance, and bravery. Tribal markings represent cultural identity and exchanges. The design reflects the perseverance and vitality of Indigenous communities.

Human Rights Day protest against the CCP in Sydney. Participants included Chinese, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hongkongers and other groups

Zhang Yadi's plight illustrates the risk of going home for Chinese nationals who displease the state, as it increasingly tightens control over issues it considers sensitive -- such as that of Tibet. In full: buff.ly/EfBmfWe

Australians do not fully understand what’s at stake if Taiwan’s democracy is threatened by China. 👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/what-is...

Excellent video explaining and dispelling the common myths about Taiwan perpetuated by western media. Hint: Ranked 4th in the world with regard to safety, it definitely is not ‘the most dangerous place on earth.’ Great thanks to @honghongtinn.bsky.social for sharing channel

I wrote on the PRC campaign of words against Japan/Takaichi this week. It's infuriating that after so many years of PRC fauxspeak the int'l media still reaches for the "victims provoke" trope, like complaining that Benes provoked Hitler. www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...

"Kerry Brown's 'Why Taiwan Matters' Simply Argues That Taiwan Does Not Matter in the Face of China" by @brianhioe.bsky.social

"'Girl' and 'Left-handed Girl': Two Tales of Mothers, Daughters, and Trauma" by Sebastien Smith

Taiwan and Finland bands prepare for ‘heavy metal diplomacy’ 🇫🇮 🤜🏼🤛🏽 🇹🇼 focustaiwan.tw/culture/2025...

Also in #Europe — the current vice president of #Taiwan, Bi-khim Hsiao, who delivered the 1st-ever speech by a senior member of the Taiwanese government in the European Parliament. "We don't just want to survive. We want democracies to thrive," she said in #Brussels. www.ipac.global/news/taiwans...

Australia’s Understanding and Preparedness for a Taiwan Strait Contingency. From me, for Australian Outlook. www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianou...

New ASPI report on Australian institutional responses to a Taiwan Strait crisis. Authors include @mhar4.bsky.social and @nathanattrill.bsky.social www.aspi.org.au/report/austr...

Official statement by the foreign ministry of #Taiwan to TIME magazine: "China is the source of disruption to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait due to its persistent rhetorical and military aggression against Taiwan—including military exercises, gray-zone threats, and cognitive warfare."

A few remarks: 1. I can't get pass the lack of logic of the 1st paragraph, which rightly describes China as a threat for Taiwan (and as being "the most dangerous party") but blames Taiwan President Lai Ching-te for officially aknowledging that threat. Yes, Taiwan's political system is under threat.

150,000 join Taiwan Pride as organizers urge understanding Organizers and participants expressed hope that the parade would help build understanding amid a growing global backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).