On March 19, 2017, Taiwanese pro-democracy activist Lee Ming-Che (李明哲) disappeared in China. Ten days later, China admitted to having taken him. Mr. Lee is now serving a five-year sentence for the “subversion of state” in Hunan, China. Evidence against him included social media activities on QQ, WeChat, and Facebook, both when he was physically inside and outside Chinese borders.   Today’s guest is E-ling Chiu（邱伊翎）Executive Director of Amnesty International in Taiwan, and former Secretary General of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights. Ms. Chiu has been working closely with Lee’s wife, lobbying for international support and leading the coalition of civic society called “the Lee Ming-Che Rescue Team."   

Hosted by William Yang, a correspondent for Deutsche Welle based in Taipei. Yang is a regular contributor to The Guardian, Quartz, and The Independent.   

Here is video from Mr. Lee's trial on Sept 11, 2017.   

Letters to Lee Ming-Che can be posted to:   赤山監獄 ｜ 413104 中華人民共和國湖南省益陽市沅江市南嘴鎮赤山監獄 | 收件人：獄政管理科 轉 李明哲 先生

To get in touch and support NGO’s helping the case:  Amnesty International, Taiwan | Covenants Watch | Taiwan Association for Human Rights | The Letter-Writing Campaign (Mandarin)   

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EPISODE CREDIT | Emily Y. Wu @emilyywu, Producer, Editor | Sam Robbins @helloitissam, Research | Thomas Lee, Brand Design | a Ghost Island Media production | www.ghostisland.media

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It’s two more months until the second inauguration of Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen. This episode, we chat with journalist Chris Horton to recap the general election on January 11 and the race for national legislators. (This interview was recorded in late January, 2020.)  Chris Horton is a freelance journalist based in Taipei. He is a regular contributor to The New York Times, The Nikkei Asian Review, and The Atlantic.

Hosted by J.R. Wu - Chief of the Secretariat for INDSR (Institute for National Defense and Security Research) in Taiwan. Wu is a former journalist with nearly two decades of media experience in the US and Asia. She has led news bureaus for Reuters and Dow Jones.

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EPISODE CREDIT | J.R. Wu, Host | Emily Y. Wu @emilyywu, Producer, Editor | Sam Robbins @helloitissam, Research | Thomas Lee, Brand Design | a Ghost Island Media production | www.ghostisland.media

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Although many countries have begun to reconsider how to balance what they get in return for trading with China, this question has always been existential in Taiwan. Trade policies have oscillated inconsistently between opening up and restricting access to the Chinese economy. The challenges of doing trade with China is a global issue. And this is The Taiwan take. Our guest is political scientist, Syaru Shirley Lin (林夏如), author of the book “Taiwan’s China Dilemma” (2016) and the forthcoming sequel “High Income Trap in East Asia.”

Today, Lin maps out the economic ties between Taiwan and China and what drives policymaking in that area. Lin retired as a partner at Goldman Sachs before becoming an academic. She now teaches world politics at the University of Virginia and global political economy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

*This interview was recorded before the Jan. 11 general election.

Hosted by J.R. Wu - Chief of the Secretariat for INDSR (Institute for National Defense and Security Research) in Taiwan. Wu is a former journalist with nearly two decades of media experience in the US and Asia. She has led news bureaus for Reuters and Dow Jones.

Follow us on Twitter @ghostislandme

EPISODE CREDIT | J.R. Wu, Host | Emily Y. Wu @emilyywu, Producer, Editor | Sam Robbins @helloitissam, Research | Thomas Lee, Brand Design | a Ghost Island Media production | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/Taiwan

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Kent Feng (馮世寬) is a top-gun and twice-appointed Taiwan cabinet minister. He was the Minister of National Defense from 2016-2018 and is currently the Minister of the Veterans Affairs Council. In this holiday special, Feng shares stories of his life and his times. It offers rare insights, in English, from this retired three-star general of the ROC Air Force.  

Hosted by J.R. Wu - Chief of the Secretariat for INDSR (Institute for National Defense and Security Research) in Taiwan. Wu is a former journalist with nearly two decades of media experience in the US and Asia. She has led news bureaus for Reuters and Dow Jones.

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EPISODE CREDIT | J.R. Wu, Host | Emily Y. Wu @emilyywu, Producer, Editor | Sam Robbins @helloitissam and Yu-Chen Lai @aGuavaEmoji, Research | Thomas Lee, Brand Design | a Ghost Island Media production | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/Taiwan

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When it comes to US and China trade disputes, perhaps no country is feeling the effects quite as acutely as Taiwan. Amidst the uncertainty, how can players trapped in the middle make the most out of the situation they now find themselves in? These are global issues. And this is The Taiwan Take.  Our guest is Rupert Hammond-Chambers - president of the US-Taiwan Business Council. We discuss the on-going trade war and its effect on Taiwan. We walk talk high tech, which makes up a large part of the Taiwanese economy, and the difficult decisions this sector is making to adapt to the new business landscape.  

Hosted by J.R. Wu - Chief of the Secretariat for INDSR (Institute for National Defense and Security Research) in Taiwan. Wu is a former journalist with nearly two decades of media experience in the US and Asia. She has led news bureaus for Reuters and Dow Jones.

Follow us on Twitter @ghostislandme

EPISODE CREDIT | J.R. Wu, Host | Emily Y. Wu @emilyywu, Producer, Editor | Sam Robbins @helloitissam, Research | Thomas Lee, Brand Design | a Ghost Island Media production | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/Taiwan

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Sylvia Feng (馮賢賢) is the producer of a new political TV drama, “Island Nation 國際橋牌社" - which looks at Taiwan from 1990-94 during its transition to democracy. Sylvia and J.R. discuss the media industry in Taiwan and the challenges media and creative professionals face today. Feng has had over three decades of experience in broadcast journalism, including a long career in Taiwan’s public television network, of which she helped to build and later came a president.  The challenge of balancing politics, profit, and creative freedom in an ever-changing, increasingly competitive market is a global issue, and this is The Taiwan Take.  Trailers and Facebook to “Island Nation".   

Hosted by J.R. Wu - Chief of the Secretariat for INDSR (Institute for National Defense and Security Research) in Taiwan. Wu is a former journalist with nearly two decades of media experience in the US and Asia. She has led news bureaus for Reuters and Dow Jones.

Follow us on Twitter @ghostislandme

EPISODE CREDIT | J.R. Wu, Host | Emily Y. Wu @emilyywu, Producer, Editor | Sam Robbins @helloitissam, Research | Thomas Lee, Brand Design | a Ghost Island Media production | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/Taiwan

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Today, we look at Chinese influence and infiltration. Our guest is Dr. Jeremy Hung - a researcher at INDSR (Institute for National Defense and Security Research). We discuss the role of proxy agents (ie. intermediaries) and how they may be helping China to influence media, impact politics, and strengthen its control over Taiwan.

Hosted by J.R. Wu - Chief of the Secretariat for INDSR (Institute for National Defense and Security Research) in Taiwan. Wu is a former journalist with nearly two decades of media experience in the US and Asia. She has led news bureaus for Reuters and Dow Jones.

Follow us on Twitter @ghostislandme

EPISODE CREDIT | J.R. Wu, Host | Emily Y. Wu @emilyywu, Producer, Editor | Sam Robbins @helloitissam, Research | Thomas Lee, Brand Design | Music license MB01ZAK7RWFCG4W | a Ghost Island Media production | www.ghostisland.media

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Welcome to the first episode. Today, we discuss the changing landscape of Asia-Pacific security, its implications on Taiwan, and the role that partners like the U.S. plays.  Today's guest is Dr. Kharis Templeman - a political scientist and an advisor on the Taiwan Democracy and Security Project at Stanford University. 

Hosted by J.R. Wu - Chief of the Secretariat for INDSR (Institute for National Defense and Security Research) in Taiwan. Wu is a former journalist with nearly two decades of media experience in the US and Asia. She has led news bureaus for Reuters and Dow Jones. At INDSR, Wu advises the institute’s leadership, handles international outreach with external stakeholders, and supports project management.  

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EPISODE CREDIT | J.R. Wu, Host | Emily Y. Wu @emilyywu, Producer, Editor | Sam Robbins @helloitissam, Research | Thomas Lee, Brand Design | a Ghost Island Media production | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/Taiwan

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We’ve got a new show! The Taiwan Take. It’s a current affairs show where we cover topics critical to Taiwan and the implications for Asia and beyond.In this first season, we will talk national security, China infiltration, video gaming, LGBTQI issues, and more. Every episode we’ll invite a veteran journalist for a conversation with an expert, to get the big picture context of what we need to know. These are global issues, and this is, The Taiwan Take.

Support the show: https://patreon.com/Taiwan

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