Sovereignty and Stalemate - President Lai’s First Year

 These are challenging times for many world leaders and no less so for the democratically elected leader of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te (賴清德). Lai Ching-te or William Lai was inaugurated as the President of Taiwan on May 20th, 2024. He succeeded Tsai Ing-wen and his election to the presidential office marks the first time for his party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (民主進步黨) to hold this office for three consecutive terms.

While the DPP won the presidential vote, they failed to maintain a majority in the Legislative Yuan or Parliament. As a result, the parliament has been controlled by the Chinese Nationalist Party (中國國民黨) or Kuomintang (KMT) and their smaller ally the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) (台灣民眾黨) who have sought to block Lai's agenda, freeze or cut budgets including defense programs and interfere with operations of the country's top court.

While the KMT insist that they are seeking to strengthen and protect Taiwan's democracy, the general public would not appear to agree and a mass recall effort is well underway which could unseat up to 20 KMT lawmakers and change the balance of power for Lai's administration. This is a topic we will deal with in more detail in upcoming episodes.

In the area of cross strait relations, President Lai has adopted a stronger rhetoric that characterizes Taiwan as a de facto sovereign state, and has moved away from the more cautious tone of his predecessor. In a speech on March 13th, 2025, President Lai publicly characterized China as a "foreign hostile force" trying to "annex Taiwan and stamp out the Republic of China", a phrasing unprecedented for a Taiwanese president.

In response, Beijing has repeatedly described Lai as a dangerous "separatist" and increased military drills and grey-zone operations around Taiwan, including conducting large-scale "blockade-style military exercises" in response to his major speeches.

In this episode, I chat with William Yang (X: @WilliamYang120), Senior Northeast Asia Analyst at the International Crisis Group - an independent, non-profit NGO dedicated to preventing and resolving deadly conflict. We dive into William's recent article on President Lai's first year in office and examine how his administration has responded to mounting pressure from China. We also look at Taiwan public opinion and the challenges President Lai faces in navigating political tensions with the opposition KMT and TPP.


Date of Recording: June 5th, 2025.





Taiwan's President WilliamLai is seated at his desk in front of a backdrop that contains the RoC flag and the DPP flag
President of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te (賴清德)


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#Taiwan #TaiwanPolitics #TaiwanNews #Democracy #AsianPolitics #Geopolitics #WorldPolitics #InternationalRelations #LaiChingTe #WilliamLai #TaiwanPresident #TaiwanLeadership #DemocraticProgressiveParty #DPP #TaiwanSovereignty #CrossStraitRelations #ChinaTaiwan #TaiwanChinaTensions #TaiwanSovereignty #BeijingPressure #ChinaMilitaryDrills #Kuomintang #KMT #TaiwanPeoplesParty #TaiwanPolitics2025 #TaiwanLegislature #PoliticalGridlock #TaiwanDemocracy #TaiwanRecall #TaiwanElections #TaiwanProtests #DemocracyInAction #TaiwanPublicOpinion#PodcastEpisode #PoliticalPodcast #AsiaPodcast #CurrentAffairsPodcast #InternationalCrisisGroup


Resist Transnational Repression, Defy Totalitarianism

 On June 4th 1989, student-led demonstrations which had been brewing across China for a few months were violently crushed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who declared martial law and sent their troops onto the streets of Beijing to end the protests.

Estimates of the death toll vary from several thousand with thousands more wounded. While the massacre has been downplayed and deleted from public record in China, it has been commemorated outside of China in the intervening years.

Prior to 2020, the biggest Tiananmen commemorations used to take place in Victoria Park in Hong Kong. However, after the introduction of the National Security Law on June 30th 2020, and the subsequent CCP clamp down on democracy, any hint of remembrance has been rigorously stamped out and forbidden.

In nearby Taiwan where freedom and democracy prevail, the Tiananmen Square Massacre is commemorated each year on June 4th. However this year, even Taipei was not free from threat!

A number of Taiwan's news outlets reported that eight government offices, including the Presidential Office and Executive Yuan (parliament) received bomb threats by email on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. The messages warned of attacks if the memorial events were held. Police traced the sender's IP address to the U.S., but it is expected that the real location was masked through a VPN and searches of government buildings did not yield any suspicious devices.

Despite the threats and the inclement weather, the Tiananmen commemoration still went ahead in Taipei. According to local media, about 3000 people gathered for a candlelight vigil organized by the New School for Democracy and other human rights groups. The event took place on Democracy Boulevard outside Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, with the theme "Resist Transnational Repression, Defy Totalitarianism". It featured brief speeches by human rights advocates from Taiwan, Tibet, China, Hong Kong as well as other nations.

This is out report from the event.


Date of Recording: June 4th, 2025.




The picture show two activists giving their speeches on a lighted stage at the 2025 Tiananmen commemoration in Taipei as the audience watches on. Behind the stage in the unlit background is the outline of Chiang Kai-shek memorial hall.
Activists commemorate the Tiananmen Square Massacre at an event in front of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan on June 4th, 2025



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  • Tiananmen at 35 - our report from the Tiananmen Commemoration in Taipei in 2024


#TiananmenSquare  #TiananmenMassacre  #June4thMassacre  #1989Protests  #BeijingMassacre  #CCPViolence  #TiananmenCrackdown  #RememberJune4  #HumanRights  #FreeSpeech  #DemocracyNow  #FreedomMatters  #TransnationalRepression  #StandWithHongKong  #StandWithTaiwan  #ChinaCensorship  #NeverForgetTiananmen  #HistoryPodcast  #HumanRightsPodcast  #ChinaPodcast  #PoliticalPodcast  #PodcastEpisode  #TrueStoriesPodcast  #FreedomOfSpeech

Trump, Taiwan and the Ukraine Pivot

 Since the start of President Trump's second term, and especially following the unprecedented Oval Office confrontation last February between Trump, J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Zelensky - Washington's policy on Ukraine has undergone a dramatic shift.

While this realignment has alarmed many of America's traditional European allies, the ripple effects have been felt far beyond Europe, including in Taiwan. Despite the absence of a formal treaty, U.S. support has long been a cornerstone of Taiwan's security strategy in deterring invasion by China who claim Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory, despite having never controlled or occupied it.

In this episode, we speak with Marcin Jerzewski (X: @yehaoqin , BlueSky: yehaoqin.bsky.social) Head of the European Values Center in Taipei about how Taiwan is interpreting Washington's evolving stance on Ukraine. We explore whether President Trump's territorial rhetoric and trade initiatives are fueling skepticism in Taiwan - and, how the Chinese Communist Party is leveraging the current situation to erode Taiwan's trust in the U.S.

Date of Recording: May 27th, 2025.




Thumbnail picture shows 3 flags standing side by side - Ukraine, US and Taiwan (RoC).
Trump, Taiwan and the Ukraine Pivot


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Title music: Uplifting by Plastic3 used under license 


#Trump2025 #Taiwan #UkraineWar #USForeignPolicy #Geopolitics #ChinaTaiwan #IndoPacific #TaiwanStrait #PodcastEpisode #PoliticsPodcast

Computex 2025 - AI Next

Computex 2025 took place during the week of May 20th in the vibrant tech hub of Taipei, Taiwan. Widely regarded as one of the world's premier computer and technology expos, Computex continues to set the stage for what's next in the industry.

This year's theme, "AI Next", highlighted the growing reach of artificial intelligence - from the cloud, to the edge, and into everyday devices and applications. There was a particular focus on AI & Robotics, Next-Gen Tech and Future Mobility. Areas like Gaming, Drones, Datacenter Technology and Business Solutions also featured strongly.

With over 1,400 exhibitors from 34 countries, the event featured the biggest names in tech, with industry leaders taking to the stage for keynote announcements, while the exhibition halls buzzed with the unveiling of their latest products. There was also a big emphasis on Innovation and Startups with the InnoVEX 2025 startup showcase celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

In this episode, we bring you the pulse of the event. You'll hear directly from the entrepreneurs and innovators shaping the future of technology. We take a look at some of the new devices and gadgets from across the 80 thousand square meters of exhibits, sample some of the keynotes and examine why an increasing number of European companies and countries are forging strong ties with Taiwan.


Date of Recording: May 20th to 23rd, 2025.



Cityscape of Taipei, Taiwan showing Taipei 101 (Taiwan's tallest skyscraper) in the background with Computex and InnoVEX logos in the foreground. Listen to our podcast at www.pwneilo.com or by searching for Perspectives with Neilo wherever you get your podcasts.
Computex and InnoVEX 2025


Computex 2025 Report - Podcast Highlights video



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Title music: Uplifting by Plastic3 used under license 

#COMPUTEX2025 , #InnoVEX2025 , #TechEvents2025 , #TaiwanTech , #COMPUTEXTaipei , #AIInnovation , #StartupShowcase , #SemiconductorTech , #TechTrends2025 , #HardwareStartup , #DeepTech , #FutureOfAI , #TechCollaboration , #SmartTech2025 , #GlobalTechHub , #podcast


Friends of Steel

May 9th marked the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Russia also celebrated their version of Victory Day - an event steeped in national pride and symbolism - with a military parade in Red Square in front of an audience which included 29 visiting world leaders.

As U.S. President Donald Trump seeks a deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine, the U.S. and Europe were watching closely to see if President Putin would offer a different message this year after resisting White House efforts to secure a ceasefire so far.

In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, we explore Russia's recent Victory Day celebrations. We review the increased attendance of foreign leaders at this year's military parade in Moscow as well as key moments from President Putin's speech.

We also examine the growing alignment between China and Russia, including Xi Jinping's attempt to connect the Victory Day commemoration to what he calls "the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's return" to China.

And finally, we unpack how this year's events are being interpreted across Europe and beyond, especially against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine and increasing international calls for a ceasefire.

Date of Recording: May 12th, 2025




Guest of honor, Chinese leader Xi seated on the left with his host, Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the right oversee the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9th. A Chinese interpreter leans in from behind to help with communication.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin and guest of honor, Chinese leader Xi Jinping oversee the Victory Day parade in Red Square, Moscow on May 9th.


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Additional information on the topics covered in this episode:

  • EU High Representative Kaja Kallas' statement in Lviv, Ukraine - EU Debates via YouTube (May 9th, 2025)


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Music Credits

Title music: Uplifting by Plastic3 used under license 
Certificate number: 463851b2-7fe3-486b-aabf-64f4dea6047f/4827

Audio transition: Sound Soul (This Logo Reveal) by Diamond_Tunes via Pixabay


#geopolitics, #china,  #CCP,  #Taiwan, #VictoryDay2025, #RussiaParade, #PutinSpeech, #RussiaChinaRelations, #UkraineWar, #WorldPolitics, #XiJinping, #TaiwanTensions, #DonaldTrump, #CeasefireCalls, #MoscowParade, #EUResponse, #InternationalRelations, #GlobalSecurity, #ColdWarEchoes, #AuthoritarianAlliance, #RedSquare2025, #MilitaryParade, #Podcast, #CurrentAffairsPodcast, #PoliticalPodcast, #GlobalNewsPodcast


A Strait Blockade is not Stable Trade !

As the global economy continues to grapple with the roller coaster uncertainties of President Donald Trump's tariff war, trade relations between the world's two largest economies - the United States and China - have reached a breaking point. A series of tit-for-tat tariff escalations has pushed their economic ties to the brink, with ripple effects being felt far beyond their borders.

While many smaller nations scramble to shield themselves from the fallout of this high-stakes trade conflict, China is positioning itself as a stabilizing force - seeking to capitalize on global dissatisfaction with U.S. trade policy and promote its own image as a force for stable trade in the world.

But how does China's claim hold up under scrutiny ?

In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, we unpack China's performance as a global trading partner, explore its engagement with the World Trade Organization, and examine whether its claims of being a stabilizing force in global trade hold any water or just mask deeper strategic ambitions.

Date of Recording: April 21st, 2025



The image shows a satellite map of Taiwan surrounded by a path created by China's naval vessels (in red) as they conduct military drills around the island. The picture also indicates target strike locations in major cities around Taiwan.
Image released by China's PLA Eastern Theatre Command as part of their 'Strait Thunder 2025A' military drills launched around Taiwan on March 31st. The image indicates target strike locations in many of Taiwan's major metropolitan areas.


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Music Credits

Title music: Uplifting by Plastic3 used under license 
Certificate number: 463851b2-7fe3-486b-aabf-64f4dea6047f/4827

Audio transition: Sound Soul (This Logo Reveal) by Diamond_Tunes via Pixabay


#geopolitics, #globaltrade, #china, #USChinaRelations, #Tradewar, #Trump2024, #ChinaPolitics, #worldEconomy, #CCP, #EconomicPower, #Taiwan, #Taiwanstrait, #military, #WTO, #Podcast, #Podcastrecommendations


The FIMI Iceberg - Decoding Foreign Interference Threats

According to data gathered by the European External Action Service (EEAS), last year over eighty countries and over two hundred organizations were targets of attacks from Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference - or FIMI. These attacks targeted everything from major international events like the Paris Olympics, to national elections, regional conflicts and local protests.

The main instigators of these influence operations were China and Russia and they use FIMI to manipulate public opinion, fuel polarization and interfere with democratic processes within the EU and worldwide. They employ a multi-layered strategy using both state and non-state actors to exert long term influence.

According to the EEAS report, "their aim is to destabilize societies, damage democracies, drive wedges between different groups and undermine the EU's global standing". The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas says "FIMI is not merely a tool for disseminating deceptive narratives. It is an integral part of military operations used by foreign states to lay the way for kinetic action on the ground," and "is a major security threat to the EU."

And it would appear that no country is immune. Even a small neutral country like Ireland was mentioned thousands of times by Russian and Chinese influence networks during a monitoring period from September 2023 to September 2024 according to an in-depth study carried out by Norway's Defense Research Strategy.

In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, we chat with Eoin McNamara (X: @McNamara_Eoin  BSky: @mcnamara-eoin.bsky.social), Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs in Helsinki to unpack some of the key findings in these reports. We discuss what motives lie behind these manipulation and interference campaigns as well as some examples of recent case studies and their impact. In addition we talk about the vulnerability of western society to such interference and what democracies can do to protect their citizens from such nefarious interference in the future.

Date of Recording: March 31st, 2025.



The thumbnail is entitled the FIMI Iceberg and shows Russia President Putin and Chinese President Xi - one on either side of an iceberg. They are surrounded by symbols of their state organizations and state controlled media outlets that appear around the iceberg above the water line. Below the waterline are symbols of China's and Russia's covert state linked channels and state aligned channels.
The FIMI Iceberg showing Russia's and China's Overt threats such as official state agencies and state controlled outlets (media organizations) as well as Covert threats (below the water line) such as state linked channels and state aligned channels. See the 3rd EEAS Report on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Threats linked below for full details.


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Music Credits:
Title music: Uplifting by Plastic3 used under Tribe of Noise license
Break: Shining Bright Dusk by FreeSoundServer via Pixabay

#FIMI, #InformationWarfare, #Geopolitics, #Cybersecurity, #Disinformation, #DigitalWarfare, #ForeignInterference, #Propaganda, #CyberThreats, #ElectionInterference, #ChinaInfluence, #RussiaInterference, #HybridWarfare, #ChinesePropaganda, #AuthoritarianInfluence, #EUDemocracy, #EuropeanSecurity, #EUPolitics, #EUForeignPolicy, #DefendDemocracy, #IrelandSecurity, #IrelandPolitics, #NeutralIreland, #SocialMediaManipulation, #DigitalPropoganda, #FakeNews, #CyberTactics, #Podcast, #PodcastEpisode

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