Research by the National Museum of Natural Science confirmed that Denisovans — a species of archaic humans — inhabited Penghu 100,000 years ago, revealing for the first time their presence outside areas near present-day Mongolia. The finding not only revealed the complexity of the evolutionary and m
Today is UN Chinese Language Day, a celebration honoring the richness of the Chinese script. The date was chosen to coincide with guyu (“grain rain”), a traditional solar term (half-month seasonal division) starting on April 20 when ancient Chinese paid tribute to Cangjie (倉頡), the legendary figure
Over the past few years, the concept of the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” has become central in the political narrative of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), especially under Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). While many Chinese in and outside China embrace the idea of national pride a
Every time someone in Taiwan asks where I am from and I tell them that I am Indonesian, I am met with confusion, followed by an awkward pause and responses such as: “But your skin tone is whiter than most of them” or “Are you really Indonesian? Why do you look so different?”I laugh and answer: “Beca
EDITORIAL CARTOON
When US President Donald Trump finally unleashed his long-threatened tariff blitz, the scale and scope were far worse than most governments expected. It came as no surprise that China would be the hardest hit, but the punishing duties imposed on most Asian countries were a profound shock. Fortunatel
India’s purchase of 26 Rafale jets from France’s Dassault Aviation SA cannot conceal the fact that its military is sleepwalking into a crisis. Strategic indecision and an addiction to short-termism have left its armed forces unprepared for the challenges ahead.The new planes would certainly fill an
A film I loved growing up was the 1986 classic Short Circuit. In one scene, Johnny Five, the incredible robot that becomes “alive” after being struck by lightning, devours book after book, spending seconds on each title. Soon he runs out. “Ahh! More input, Stephanie! More!”“There isn’t anything more
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump’s administration released the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance” document detailing its national defense plans, the Washington Post reported. The document outlined how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from th
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) supporter who launched a recall petition against Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kuen-cheng (李坤城), is suspected of using forged signatures and other crimes. The evening Sung was summoned to the New Taipei City Prosecutors’ O
Former minister of culture Lung Ying-tai (龍應台) has long wielded influence through the power of words. Her articles once served as a moral compass for a society in transition. However, as her April 1 guest article in the New York Times, “The Clock Is Ticking for Taiwan,” makes all too clear, even cel
From the COVID-19 pandemic to the tsunami of US trade tariffs unleashed earlier this month, Taiwan is facing enormous, difficult challenges.The world continues to veer off into conflict and chaos. In the field of medicine and public health, experts used to believe that a global contagion like the Bl
EDITORIAL CARTOON
School districts across the US are facing the same decision as institutions of higher learning: allow the government to censor their instruction or stand up for themselves and lose federal funding. As Harvard University and Columbia University demonstrated by taking opposite approaches, there is rea
On Monday, rocket company Blue Origin sent six women to the edge of space, the first time an all-female crew made the trip since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova completed a three-day solo mission more than six decades ago.The flight included a pop star, a TV journalist, an aerospace engineer,
When a severe rice shortage sent prices skyrocketing in Japan last year, Tokyo restaurant owner Arata Hirano did what had once seemed unthinkable: He switched to a US variety.The price of the Californian Calrose rice he buys has doubled since his first purchase last summer, but even so it is far che
A growing number of Chinese espionage operations have been uncovered in the past year, and some members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and top officials in government agencies have been detained on suspicion of spying for China. These cases signal an imminent risk of China intensif
Anyone who embraces the values of democracy and human rights, such as myself, would strongly condemn the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for its defense of Nazi symbolism and would not help but think that the KMT has never changed its dictatorial nature.As a legislator in the democratic country of T
The Chinese government on March 29 sent shock waves through the Tibetan Buddhist community by announcing the untimely death of one of its most revered spiritual figures, Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche. His sudden passing in Vietnam raised widespread suspicion and concern among his followers, who demanded an
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