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With the exception of hardline Taiwan separatists, most would not argue that the culture in Taiwan is Chinese at its core. But if that's the case, why has Chinese identity in Taiwan seemed so fragile in recent decades?

In this episode, I trace how Taiwan's identity has been shaped and reshaped: from its early feudal Chinese consciousness, through Japanese colonization, the KMT's project of promoting Chinese patriotism, the rise of a Taiwan-centered consciousness, and finally the DPP'’s curriculum reforms and "desinicization" campaigns. We'll explore how history and politics together have contributed to Taiwan's ongoing identity confusion.

If you've ever wondered how Taiwan’s identity struggles became what they are today, this episode connects the history, the politics, and the narratives that continue to shape the island.

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