Tales of Taiwan

Taiwan has evolved from its autocratic origins to rank as the most democratic nation in Asia, as well as the most economically dynamic, but these attributes have increased China’s determination to crush the former and absorb the latter, the same motivations as Russia’s disastrous invasion of Ukraine.

Taiwan belongs in the United Nations

Accepting Taiwan into the United Nations would acknowledge its economic and strategic importance and signal global opposition to Communist China’s plans to invade and annex the thriving island nation.

Don’t prod the porcupine

Taiwan may draw on the lessons of Ukraine’s successful resistance against Russia to adopt a ‘porcupine’ strategy to counter China’s conventional strength.

We must defend Taiwan

A clear commitment by the West to defend Ukraine would have spared Europe three years of war, and its time for a similar pledge to protect Taiwan from China’s imperial ambitions and deter a war in the Pacific.

Taiwan lives

Niki Alsford’s recent book, “Taiwan Lives,” explores how the Taiwanese people have created one of the world’s most high-tech economies, a successful and vibrant democracy, and a distinctive cultural identity.

Disagreeing where we must

Australia and China are looking to improve their diplomatic and economic relations after China’s failed attempts to bully Australia into submission, but this shouldn’t stop Australia emphasising its support for Taiwan.

Disinformation and democratic resilience in Taiwan

Taiwan’s robust democracy is underpinned by freedom of speech, press and association – liberties that China exploits to spread disinformation and try to convince Taiwanese citizens that the only way to avoid war is to support its plans to ‘peacefully’ unify Taiwan with mainland China.

Taiwan’s quest for legitimacy

Despite Communist China’s relentless economic, diplomatic and military battering, democratic Taiwan continues to win friends and protect its position through intelligent application of its soft power resources.

The power that Beijing can’t match

Taiwan is smaller and has less access to normal diplomatic avenues but does have one advantage over mainland China – its vibrant free society.

Taiwan’s reinvention of diplomacy

The lack of official diplomatic allies isn’t stopping Taiwan from finding ways of winning friends and influencing people.

China aims to crush Taiwan under the ‘wheels of history’

From Adolf Hitler to Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, aggressive tyrants often set out exactly what they plan to do then take commentators and democratic leaders by surprise when they do them. Xi Jinping’s plans to invade and assimilate Taiwan are no exception.

Facing facts over China

Australians have as much reason to be wary of China’s communist government as people in Taiwan, because China’s communists have shown they don’t care about people anywhere – not in China, not in Taiwan and not in Australia.