Showing posts with label #Ireland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Ireland. Show all posts

A Foggy Tale - Taiwanese Cinema Comes to Ireland

In this episode, we explore A Foggy Tale ( 大濛 ), the acclaimed Taiwanese historical drama directed by Chen Yu-hsun, which recently received its Irish premiere at Dublin’s Savoy Cinema.

Set during Taiwan’s White Terror era in the 1950s, A Foggy Tale follows a young girl searching for the truth surrounding her brother’s execution during a time of martial law and political repression. Through striking cinematography, powerful performances, and an authentic atmosphere, the film captures both the fear and the humanity that endured during one of the most turbulent periods in Taiwanese history.

The screening was hosted by the Dublin School of Mandarin Chinese as part of Taiwan’s new “Europe-Taiwan Cultural Year” initiative, launched by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to share Taiwanese culture and creativity across Europe. With a packed programme of cultural events planned in the months ahead, we also look at what audiences in Ireland can expect next (listen until the end of the episode or see list below).

After attending the Dublin premiere on May 9th, I sat down with Dr. George Hong, a Taiwanese resident of Ireland, to discuss the historical background of the film, the meaning of the White Terror period, the evolution of Taiwanese identity, and why Taiwan’s past continues to resonate so strongly today.

This episode explores Taiwanese cinema, Taiwan history, cultural identity, political memory, and the growing cultural connection between Taiwan and Ireland.

Date of Recording: May 9th, 2026.



A Foggy Tale premiered in Ireland at Dublin's Savoy Cinema on May 9th
Insert photo: Dr. George Hong and Neil O'Sullivan.


DIVE DEEPER

Additional information on the topics covered in this episode:

A Foggy Tale


Europe-Taiwan Culture Year - Events in Ireland

  • Fragments of Becoming - exhibition by Yuan-Wen Wang at Dance Cork Firkin Crane, opens May 6th and runs to June 27th, 2026.
  • Dragon Boat Festival event, Greystones, June 20th - FB, @twirlassoc
  • Taiwanese Choir Performance, August (more later)
  • A Chip Odyssey ( 造山者 ) - feature length documentary (trailer) screening as part of Culture Night in September.


Other topics



Podcasts you might also like



Audio Credit: excerpt from A Foggy Tale movie trailer 

The Chinese Ambassador was Wrong - Barry Ward TD Responds

In early March, China’s ambassador to Ireland publicly criticised Irish politicians for engaging with Taiwan — suggesting such actions were not in Ireland’s public interest.

The remarks prompted a sharp response from Barry Ward, Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire who defended the right of elected representatives to engage freely in matters of foreign policy — and to speak openly without external pressure.

But the exchange raises a deeper question:

Is China’s growing influence in Ireland beginning to shape what can — and can’t — be said?

In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, I speak with Deputy Ward about:

  • His response to the ambassador’s letter

  • The continued closure of Ireland’s trade office in Taipei

  • Whether China's influence in Ireland is growing

  • The absence of transparency mechanisms such as a foreign interference register

We also explore whether criticism of China is becoming a more sensitive or even avoided topic in Irish public life, and what that might mean for open democratic debate.

As Ireland navigates an increasingly complex relationship with China, this conversation asks whether economic, political, and diplomatic considerations are beginning to influence not just policy — but public discourse itself.

Date of Recording: March 30th, 2026

Deputy Barry Ward (FG) is greeted by Taiwan's President, William Lai during a visit to Taiwan in July 2025. Also present in the photo are Malcolm Byrne (FF) TD and John McGuinness (FF), Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
Deputy Barry Ward (FG) is greeted by Taiwan's President, William Lai during a visit to Taiwan in July 2025.
Also present in the photo are Malcolm Byrne TD (FF) and
John McGuinness TD (FF), Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann.

Photo courtesy of the Office of the President, Republic of China, Taiwan.


DIVE DEEPER

Additional information on the topics covered in this episode:



Podcasts you might also like


The Anaconda in the Irish Chandelier

There’s a metaphor often used in diplomatic circles when talking about China’s influence — the idea of an anaconda in the chandelier. Everyone can see it, everyone knows it’s there, but no one wants to acknowledge it, because doing so would mean having to act.

A US professor, by the name of Perry Link coined the term - "the anaconda in the chandelier" -  in a 2002 essay in the New York Review of Books. He's recognized as one of the world’s foremost scholars of Chinese language, literature, and political expression and he used this metaphor to describe what he called the pervasive, silent, yet deadly threat of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) control, forcing self-censorship across society, literature, and even diplomacy, where individuals police their own speech and actions to avoid unpredictable and sometimes violent repercussions. 

He says that the Chinese government’s censorial authority resembles not so much a man-eating tiger or a fire-snorting dragon but rather a giant anaconda coiled in an overhead chandelier. Normally the great snake doesn’t move. It doesn’t have to. It feels no need to be clear about its prohibitions. Its constant silent message is “You yourself decide,” after which, more often than not, everyone in its shadow makes his or her large and small adjustments—all quite “naturally". 


The fear they experience is not a clear and present sense of panic. It's more of a dull, well-entrenched leeriness that people who deal with the Chinese Communist Party system usually get used to, and eventually accept as part of their natural landscape. The controlling psychological power of the fear is what prevails.


Legend has it that Saint Patrick banished all the snakes from Ireland. But by the early 1990s, it would appear that one very large snake had quietly found its way back into the Oireachtas  — not as a myth, but as a political reality!


In this special episode of Perspectives with Neilo, we examine how fear of offending the Chinese government has quietly shaped Irish political behavior. For decades, Irish governments have tiptoed around Beijing muting criticism on Tibet, China’s human rights abuses, and support for democracies like Taiwan. We examine how this quiet self-censorship has influenced policy, distorted transparency, and raised troubling questions about economic leverage, political openness, and the resilience of Ireland’s democratic values.


Date of Recording: December 19th, 2025.



The picture shows a giant anaconda - red with gold stars - coiled in a chandelier and in the background, the Irish Parliament or Dail is in session as the anaconda quietly observes proceedings.
"The Chinese government’s censorial authority resembles not so much a man-eating tiger or a fire-snorting dragon but rather a giant anaconda coiled in an overhead chandelier".



DIVE DEEPER


Additional information on the topics covered in this episode:


Podcasts you might also like

  • The Transparency Trap - China's Closed-Door Diplomacy and the Uyghur Crisis - Interview with Dr David O'Brien (November 2025)



Music Credits:

Cinematic Piano Ambient Trailer Soundtrack by Open-Music-for-Videos via Pixabay
Sound Soul (This Logo Reveal) by Diamond_Tunes via Pixabay
Slow immersion by SamuelFJohanns via Pixabay
Tibet by AdvGold via Pixabay
Shining Bright Dusk by FreeSoundServer via Pixabay
Enter the realm - no Piano by SamuelFJohanns via Pixabay 


Speeches:

Excerpt from Closing statement by Josep Borrell Fonelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission on Sept 13th, 2022, provided courtesy of the European Parliament Multimedia Centre. © European Union, 2022 – Source: EP.

Excerpts from Senator Michael McDowell's speech at Seanad Eireann, Human Rights in China: Motion, Dec 1st, 2021 provided courtesy of the Houses of the Oireachtas. © Houses of the Oireachtas, 2021.


#podcast, #AnacondaInTheChandelier, #IrishPolitics, #ChinaInfluence, #CCP, #Democracy, #HumanRights, #Tibet, #Transparency, #PoliticalInfluence, #Geopolitics, #Coercion, #Ireland, #EU2026, #CCPInfluence, #Uyghurs, #Taiwan, #Taiwanindependence



Democracy Unshielded - China's Growing Reach in Irish Politics

 In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, we investigate China’s growing political influence in Ireland and the recent meetings between Irish elected officials and members of the Chinese Communist Party. These engagements come at the very moment Ireland’s national cyber-security authority warns of state-aligned threat actors— including those linked to China and Russia—targeting Irish infrastructure, public institutions, and democratic processes.

We examine who attended these meetings, why they matter, and how they align with the EU’s newly announced European Democracy Shield, designed to counter foreign interference from authoritarian regimes.

In this episode, we dig into China’s growing reach in Irish politics and the uncomfortable question at the centre of it all: Is Ireland leaving its democracy unshielded?

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in Irish politics, democracy, foreign interference, China’s global strategy, and the future of European security.


Date of Recording: December 2nd, 2025






A constructed picture with Leinster House in the background shows Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection stands behind a European Democracy Shield (left) while on his right, People's Republic of China leader Xi Jinping looks on.
Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection (Left) and Xi Jinping leader of the People's Republic of China (Right)


DIVE DEEPER


Additional information on the topics covered in this episode:


  • World Press Freedom Index - Wiki
  • Xuexi Qiangguo - Wiki

Podcasts you might also like


Credits:
Audio transition: Sound Soul (This Logo Reveal) by Diamond_Tunes via Pixabay
Clip of Deputy Alan Kelly's speech at the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Nov 19th, 2025 provided courtesy of the Houses of the Oireachtas. © Houses of the Oireachtas, 2025
Clip of Comissioner Michael McGrath’s speech on the EU Democracy Shield provided courtesy of the European Parliament Multimedia Centre. © European Union, 2025 – Source: EP.


#Ireland, #IrishPolitics, #Democracy, #Geopolitics, #ForeignPolicy, #China, #CCP, #ChinaInfluence, #Hybridthreats, #Cybersecurity, #EU, #NationalSecurity, #Podcast, #PodcastEpisode


The Transparency Trap - China's Closed-Door Diplomacy and the Uyghur Crisis

Why is China holding private, closed-door meetings with democratic leaders — including in Ireland — despite growing warnings about CCP influence operations? 

And how does this secrecy connect to Beijing’s global effort to reshape the narrative around the Uyghur crisis?

In this episode, Irish anthropologist Dr. David O’Brien joins us to share insights from his years living and researching in Xinjiang in the mid 2000's. We explore how the Chinese Communist Party uses covert diplomacy, narrative manipulation, and state-aligned “human rights” organizations like the China Federation for Human Rights Development (CFHRD) to obscure evidence of human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims.

Dr. O’Brien discusses what he witnessed on the ground, the impact of the 2022 UN Human Rights report and international sanctions, evidence of population reduction and forced sterilization, and the broader challenge China poses to universal human rights. We also examine how the United Front Work Department conducts influence operations within democratic countries — often out of public view.

This episode exposes the high-stakes battle over truth, transparency, and human rights in the face of authoritarian pressure. 

Date of Recording: October 31st, 2025




The Transparency Trap - China's Closed-Door Diplomacy and the Uyghur Crisis, Interview with Dr. David O'Brien, co-founder of the Irish Uyghur Cultural Association and lecturer at Jagellonian University in Krakow, Poland
The Transparency Trap - China's Closed-Door Diplomacy and the Uyghur Crisis, Interview with Dr. David O'Brien, co-founder of the Irish Uyghur Cultural Association and lecturer at Jagellonian University in Krakow, Poland 


DIVE DEEPER

Additional Information on the topics covered in this episode:

  • OHCHR Assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China - landing page for pdf download, published August 31st, 2022.

  • Chinese delegation on human rights visits Ireland, Finland - Xinhua (China State Media) October 16th, 2025.

Podcasts you might also like


#UyghurCrisis #Xinjiang #CCP #ChinaPolitics #ChinaInfluence #HumanRights #UnitedFront #Uyghurs #ClosedDoorDiplomacy #Transparency #Ireland  #CFHRD #Podcast #Geopolitics

Too Afraid to Trade ? Ireland's Caution on Taiwan

Authoritarian regimes have become more effective at co-opting or circumventing the norms and institutions established to support basic liberties, and at subsidizing others who wish to do the same. They have succeeded in shifting global incentives, jeopardizing the consensus that democracy is the only viable path to prosperity and security, while encouraging more totalitarian approaches to governance.


In particular, the regimes of China and Russia have gained enormous power in the international system, and freer countries have seen their established norms challenged and fractured. Many international organizations including Freedom House say the current state of global freedom should raise alarm among all who value their own rights and those of their fellow human beings. 


One of the countries on the very frontline in this fight to maintain freedom and democracy is Taiwan. 


Located just 150km off the coast of China in the Western Pacific, Taiwan has been a democracy since the 1990s. In fact it is frequently referred to as a beacon of democracy in Asia and ranks just as high as many European countries in democracy indices.


Taiwan faces cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns and every shade of grey warfare you can imagine on a daily basis. The source of these attacks is the People's Republic of China (PRC) which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party or CCP.  They claim Taiwan as their sovereign territory and seek to annex it, but have never occupied or controlled Taiwan for even a second in their entire existence.


The CCP have for years tried to weaken international support for Taiwan to further isolate the country, coercing its diplomatic allies and trading partners as well as interfering in international organizations to block Taiwan’s membership. 


Thankfully the EU’s engagements with Taiwan have remained relatively strong and although the EU and Taiwan do not have diplomatic relations, trade and cultural links are very active. 


The EU considers Taiwan a reliable and valued like-minded partner in Asia and is Taiwan's largest foreign investor and third largest trading partner. Bilateral trade in goods runs at around 50 billion Euros annually and the EU operates a Trade Office in Taipei along with 17 EU member states.

As Ireland prepares to assume the presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2026, questions are emerging about Dublin’s cautious approach to Taiwan. Why does Ireland remain an outlier among EU member states in its engagement with Taipei — and to what extent does China’s influence in Ireland and fear of offending China shape this stance?

In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, we speak with John McGuinness, Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow–Kilkenny, Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, and Chairman of the Ireland–Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association. He joins us to discuss Ireland’s evolving relationship with Taiwan and his recent visit to the island.

Deputy McGuinness shares insights from his meeting with President William Lai (賴清德), who welcomed Ireland’s National Semiconductor Strategy and suggested that Taiwan and Ireland could deepen cooperation in this strategically important sector. We also explore other areas of potential partnership — from trade and agri-food exports to education and innovation — and ask whether Ireland is missing valuable opportunities by keeping its distance, particularly at a time when many countries in the world are diversifying trade links.

Finally, we discuss Micheál Martin’s leadership of Fianna Fáil, examining how his top-down style may be influencing government policy on Taiwan. And we look at how the Ireland–Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association is working to raise awareness of Beijing’s ongoing efforts to isolate Taiwan — despite unwarranted objections from the Chinese Communist Party.

Date of Recording: November 7th, 2025




President of Taiwan, William Lai (賴清德) meets with Deputy Speaker John McGuinness TD, leader of a cross-party delegation from Ireland's parliament in Taipei on July 22nd, 2025. 
[Photo courtesy of Office of the President, Republic of China, Taiwan]


DIVE DEEPER

Additional Information on the topics covered in this episode:

  • European Economic Trade Office in Taiwan - website


Podcasts you might also like


#Ireland, #Taiwan, #China, #EU, #ForeignPolicy, #Trade, #Semiconductors, #IrelandTaiwanRelations, #IrelandChinaRelations, #EUForeignPolicy, #ChipStrategy, #IrelandPolitics, #JohnMcGuinness, #WilliamLai, #Geopolitics, #internationalrelations, #GlobalEconomy, #podcast, #politicalpodcast

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