In this episode of Strait Forward, Channing and Libby move beyond the U.S.-Taiwan conversation and dive into the evolving relationship between Taiwan and Europe. They highlight the shared democratic values and significant economic ties that are driving deeper cooperation.

In this episode, they welcome Jonas Parello-Plesner, Executive Director of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation and author of The Battle for Taiwan. Jonas offers a critical European perspective on Taiwan, detailing the varied approaches countries across the continent take when it comes to engaging with Taiwan.

He discusses how the war in Ukraine has heightened Europe's awareness of the threat to Taiwan, the challenges posed by Chinese coercion, and the dangers of "preemptive obedience" among European nations. Ultimately, Jonas argues that supporting a free Taiwan is vital for global economic stability and the future of democracy.

Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of Strait Forward, hosts Channing Lee and Libby Lange are joined by three young Taiwanese leaders — Fanny Chao, Alaze Lin, and Joyce Chiang — who bring unique experience from Taiwan's three major political parties. As grad students in Washington D.C., the guests discuss how the U.S. capital fosters common ground and nuance that is often missing in domestic Taiwanese politics.

The conversation tackles controversial arguments about Taiwan's strategic value and defense spending, candid assessments of their respective parties’ policies, and reflections on how their view of Taiwan's place in the world has changed since coming to the United States.

Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of Strait Forward, hosts Channing Lee and Libby Lange explore the evolving role of drones in modern warfare and their importance for Taiwan's defense. They discuss the shift from large, expensive military drones to more affordable, mass-produced systems, and the impact of the War in Ukraine on drone development and deployment.

The episode features Lorenz Meier, founder and CEO of Auterion, who details his company's mission to build an "Android for drones" — a common open-source operating system for future drone swarms. Meier shares his "Kyiv to Taiwan" story, explaining how his experiences in Ukraine highlighted the urgent need to help Taiwan develop its drone army for deterrence rather than just defense. He further elaborates on the operational applications of drones, from long-range deep strike capabilities against naval targets to close-range combat, emphasizing the applicability of lessons learned from Ukraine to Taiwan's defense challenges.

Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of Strait Forward, hosts Channing Lee and Libby Lange welcome Lev Nachman, an assistant professor in the Graduate Institute of National Development at National Taiwan University (NTU) and author of Contested Taiwan: Sovereignty, Social Movements, and Party Formation. They discuss how public opinion and polarized politics shape perceptions of recent events in Taiwan.

Lev Nachman shares his expertise on political participation in Taiwan, discussing public identity, willingness to fight, and the implications of the "great recall movement." He analyzes how polarization impacts national security and the ongoing debate surrounding Taiwan's defense budget, including different perspectives on military spending. The conversation also touches on the rising influence of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) and the importance of independent voters in Taiwan's political landscape.

Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this special catch-up episode of #StraitForward, co-hosts Channing Lee and Libby Lange return to the studio to "spill the tea" on the latest from Taiwan. Channing shares insights from her trip to the Taiwan Expo USA in Dallas, detailing Taiwan's strong economic ties with Texas and the innovative technologies on display, from intelligent manufacturing to smart healthcare. The hosts also dive into major news from Taiwan over the summer, including the recent Han Kuang military exercises and the July recall votes, exploring what these events mean for the island's defense, its democracy, and its political future.

Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of Strait Forward, recorded in June at the AI+ Expo, hosts Channing Lee and Libby Lange are joined by Emily Feng, an international correspondent at NPR and author of Let Only Red Flowers Bloom. This conversation explores the role of storytelling and reporting in understanding complex geopolitical landscapes like China and Taiwan. Emily shares her unique experience as a foreign correspondent, including her years in China, the circumstances that led to her expulsion, and her subsequent move to Taiwan.

The discussion delves into the evolving media coverage of Taiwan, the surprising realities of reporting on China from Taiwan, and how her two years living on the island profoundly shaped her understanding of identity and cross-strait relations — a central theme in her book. Emily explores the nuanced, often emotional, dimensions of identity for people both within the PRC and in Taiwan.

Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of Strait Forward, recorded on the final day of the AI+ Expo, hosts Channing Lee and Libby Lange welcome Audrey Tang back to the show.

Audrey delves into her new role as Cyber Ambassador, discusses the groundbreaking ROOST initiative (Robust Open Online Safety Tools) – a decentralized, open-source defense against online harms – and shares her thoughts on the state of AGI. The discussion highlights Taiwan's unique approach to tech-driven diplomacy: bypassing traditional hurdles by focusing on shared public infrastructure and technical interoperability, as exemplified by collaborations with California on digital democracy tools and identity verification. Finally, Audrey shares her choice for Taiwan's official emoji!

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Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of Strait Forward, recorded at SCSP’s AI+ Expo, hosts Channing Lee and Libby Lange are joined by Dr. Yuh-Jye Lee, Senior Advisor at Taiwan's National Security Council. With a background in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and applied mathematics, Dr. Lee offers a unique perspective on how Taiwan can leverage emerging technologies for national defense.

• Welcome to Strait Forward Live (00:02:19:56 - 00:03:07:32): Hosts Channing Lee and Libby Lange introduce the podcast, recorded live at the AI+ Expo, and welcome special guest Dr. Yuh-Jye Lee, Senior Advisor at Taiwan's National Security Council.
• Expo Reflections (00:03:49:58 - 00:04:44:31): Dr. Lee shares his excitement for being back in D.C. and highlights the drone arena as the most impressive exhibit he's seen at the AI Expo.
• Building Taiwan's Innovation Ecosystem for National Security (00:04:44:31 - 00:07:36:24): Dr. Lee discusses Taiwan's strategy for developing defense innovation, emphasizing the need for asymmetric capabilities, leveraging Taiwan's manufacturing foundation, and the creation of a new defense innovation office.
• Taiwan's Drone Strategy (00:08:19:53 - 00:12:41:29): Insights into Taiwan's approach to drone production, the potential for mass production, concerns about component sourcing, and the opportunity for Taiwan to contribute to a "democracy supply chain" by avoiding Chinese components.
• Developing Taiwan's Own AI Models (00:13:05:48 - 00:17:05:55): Dr. Lee explains the importance of Taiwan developing its own AI models, such as TAIDE, the "Trustworthy AI Dialogue Engine," to safeguard culture, values, and national security from external influences, especially from the PRC.
• Taiwan's New Cybersecurity Strategy (00:17:26:59 - 00:24:38:01): Discussion on Taiwan's new national cybersecurity strategy, driven by the rapid evolution of cyber threats and AI. Dr. Lee details its four pillars: whole-of-society defense resilience, homeland defense and critical infrastructure, key industries and supply chains, and application and security of AI. He highlights the need for international collaboration.
• Energy Resilience in Taiwan (00:24:54:29 - 00:29:17:44): Dr. Lee addresses Taiwan's energy policy, including the decision to move away from nuclear power due to safety and waste concerns. He discusses the growth of green energy and the potential for sending data abroad to energy-abundant countries for AI model training, reducing energy imports.
• Dr. Lee's Taiwan Recommendation (00:29:44:54 - 00:31:02:34): Dr. Lee encourages listeners to visit Taiwan to experience its diverse natural beauty, from beaches to high mountains, all within a short travel distance.
• Audience Q&A Invitation (00:31:24:40 - 00:32:31:47): Libby and Channing invite listeners to submit questions for a future "Ask Me Anything" podcast episode via email at straitforward@scsp.ai

Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project.