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Can Taiwanese Overcome Home Buying Obsession?
Is renting a home inferior to buying? While most people in Taiwan seem to think so, in the United States, even the affluent may rent their homes, while the Swiss are also not obsessed with home ownership. Can Taiwanese people change their mind?
What Must Microsoft Research Asia Do to Survive?
Microsoft Research Asia, once hailed as a gift to China, has played a pivotal role in nurturing AI talent in the country. However, with tensions rising between the United States and China, the top brass at Microsoft must now confront the institute's future.
Taiwan Must Raise Consumption Tax to Narrow Wealth Gap
The truth about Taiwan’s wealth gap is that the rich use their money to make more money but only pay a small amount in taxes, making the wealth gap increasingly severe. But why does taxation expert and former legislator Tseng Chu-wei argue that the business tax, not the income tax, is the key to reforming the taxation system?
What is Propping Up China’s Economic Numbers?
China’s economy recorded 5.3-percent growth in the first quarter. However, upon closer examination, this represents a downward adjustment over the base period of last year, and the economy has been propped up by low-cost exports. What does it really tell us about China’s real economic outlook?
Can Taiwan Afford to Rescue Its Middle Class?
Calls for more social investment are ringing loudly, but Taiwan's tax system continues to perpetuate injustice. How will the country’s new government cover the hefty check it has written with its trillion-Taiwan dollar reform pledges?
Rescuing Taiwan's Anxious Middle Class
Taiwan’s high housing costs are forcing many 40-somethings off the wealth train. Their anxiety over their financial futures, which could one day trigger a democratic regression, will present a formidable challenge to Taiwan’s new government.
Engineers of the Human Soul
Australia's rapid shift from embracing China to being alerted to the passage of foreign interference laws is linked to a former journalist who was stationed in China and has a deep understanding of the Chinese Communist Party. His views also underscore the dramatic shift in U.S. attitudes toward Beijing and Taiwan.
Enroll at Your Own Risk – Taiwan’s so-called “Bilingual Schools”
In this op-ed, the author provides a critical examination of Taiwan's burgeoning bilingual education programs. From unqualified teachers and inadequate communication to cultural insensitivity and a lack of a supportive environment. How can Taiwan’s education system reform its bilingual programs to prepare its youth for a globalized future?
From the Margins into the Spotlight: Lessons from the Increase in International Media Coverage on Taiwan
The surge in international media coverage on Taiwan comes at the risk of oversimplified narratives and political co-optation. But Taiwan also provides a hopeful example of how media attention can be built for a place that once was on the margins – and it could set a precedent for Western media to redefine some of their exploitative reporting practices worldwide.
The US Federal Budget Process and Its Impact on Aid to Taiwan
Ian Murphy looks at how the US federal budget process views Taiwan as part of a broader Indo-Pacific security architecture and uses the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 to predict where the $8 billion of recently approved aid will be allocated to. He believes that funding will be allocated to various Indo-Pacific programs instead of solely to Taiwan, but will support Taiwan’s cyber defense, military institution building, and advanced weapons procurement.
The Evolving Role of Civic Tech against Disinformation in Digital Democracy
This op-ed examines Taiwan's use of civic technology to combat disinformation within its digital democracy. It highlights how Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), like the g0v movement and Cofacts, leverage transparency and open-source collaboration to safeguard information integrity. How can these civic tech successes in Taiwan serve as a model for other democracies fighting disinformation?
Toddling in Taipei
With an efficient public transportation system and a multitude of accessible, pedestrian-friendly spots, Taipei city invites families to explore its charm with ease. In this article, we delve into five top locations that cater specifically to young families, offering a blend of fun, learning, and convenience.