Brian Hioe
@brianhioe.bsky.social
Editor at @newbloommag.net, writes @thediplomat.com @flaminghydra.com, non-resident fellow at University of Nottingham's Taiwan Research Hub, Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club board, freelance journalist, translator, DJ. Author of Taipei at Daybreak
So while Lai's op-ed in the Washington Post may have been intended to placate the US, a few things are notable. One is the choice of the WaPo as publication venue. In that Substack piece that made waves awhile ago, Hsiao Bi-khim was singled out for publishing in WaPo
"Is Lai's Op-Ed in the Washington Post Intended to Placate the US or Bait the KMT?" by @brianhioe.bsky.social
Is Lai’s Op-Ed in the Washington Post Intended to Placate the US or Bait the KMT? | New Bloom Magazine
An op-ed in the Washington Post by Lai Ching-te published yesterday emphasized plans to increase the military budget to 40 billion USD, which would be 3.3% of the GDP next year and 5%
newbloommag.net
November 27, 2025 at 9:09 AM
So while Lai's op-ed in the Washington Post may have been intended to placate the US, a few things are notable. One is the choice of the WaPo as publication venue. In that Substack piece that made waves awhile ago, Hsiao Bi-khim was singled out for publishing in WaPo
Will be interesting to observe the development of this case, particularly as this involved tech secrets potentially being leaked to the US
focustaiwan.tw/business/202...
focustaiwan.tw/business/202...
Intel denies ex-TSMC executive leaked trade secrets - Focus Taiwan
American technology giant Intel Corp. said Wednesday "there is no merit" to the allegations that Lo Wei-jen (羅唯仁), one of its employees and a former executive at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co....
focustaiwan.tw
November 27, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Will be interesting to observe the development of this case, particularly as this involved tech secrets potentially being leaked to the US
focustaiwan.tw/business/202...
focustaiwan.tw/business/202...
Appeared on the @bbcworldservice to discuss Lai's op-ed in the Washington Post about raising the military budget
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
BBC OS - At least 13 dead in Hong Kong tower block fire - BBC Sounds
Some residents are still unaccounted for
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Appeared on the @bbcworldservice to discuss Lai's op-ed in the Washington Post about raising the military budget
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Wrote on views of Takaichi in Taiwan in my latest for @NikkeiAsia. Takaichi's domestic viewpoints are very out of step with the progressive values contemporary Taiwan holds dear, making her the latest right-wing actor to uncomfortably back Taiwan
asia.nikkei.com/opinion/taiw...
asia.nikkei.com/opinion/taiw...
Taiwan's cautious embrace of Japan's new hawkish prime minister
Taipei welcomes Takaichi's comments on Taiwan, even as Japan's right wing uses island for its own ends
asia.nikkei.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Wrote on views of Takaichi in Taiwan in my latest for @NikkeiAsia. Takaichi's domestic viewpoints are very out of step with the progressive values contemporary Taiwan holds dear, making her the latest right-wing actor to uncomfortably back Taiwan
asia.nikkei.com/opinion/taiw...
asia.nikkei.com/opinion/taiw...
Oh, maybe goes to show Trump's priorities at present are still with China
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Trump told Japan's PM to lower the volume on Taiwan, WSJ reports
U.S. President Donald Trump called Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi this week and advised her not to provoke Beijing on the question of Taiwan's sovereignty, the Wall Street Journal reported on ...
www.reuters.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Oh, maybe goes to show Trump's priorities at present are still with China
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Looks like some things still do cross the line for the KMT when it comes to overt expressions of pro-China sentiment, but again, I wonder how this will look now with Cheng Li-wun as party chair
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
KMT committee member resigns after 'unification' video controversy - Focus Taiwan
Ho Ying-lu (何鷹鷺), a member of the Kuomintang's (KMT) Central Standing Committee, announced her resignation from the opposition party Wednesday amid controversy over a video she made calling for Taiwan...
focustaiwan.tw
November 27, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Looks like some things still do cross the line for the KMT when it comes to overt expressions of pro-China sentiment, but again, I wonder how this will look now with Cheng Li-wun as party chair
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
Well, expect the KMT to lean into attacks on Lai’s defense budget. Lai may also mean for them to try and stymie the defense budget in a way the DPP can electorally gain from, it’s possible that’s even his true aim
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
KMT slams Lai's 'astronomical' US$40 billion defense proposal - Focus Taiwan
Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers criticized President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) "astronomical" US$40 billion defense proposal as lacking detail, and questioned whether it was part of a quid pro quo wi...
focustaiwan.tw
November 26, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Well, expect the KMT to lean into attacks on Lai’s defense budget. Lai may also mean for them to try and stymie the defense budget in a way the DPP can electorally gain from, it’s possible that’s even his true aim
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
Latest Substack!
Check it out! The latest New Bloom Substack! On our recent articles, upcoming events and more!
November 26, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Latest Substack!
And this will be taking place at the same time!
An Environmental art workshop will be held on 12/2 that takes a look at our home from a different perspective.
More info here:
www.facebook.com/share/1Mbd6n...
More info here:
www.facebook.com/share/1Mbd6n...
November 26, 2025 at 4:02 AM
And this will be taking place at the same time!
Next Pen Club! Relive childhood with us!
November 26, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Next Pen Club! Relive childhood with us!
Reposted by Brian Hioe
Chinese tourists in Taiwan are currently mostly composed of Chinese citizens living overseas visiting Taiwan proper and of Mainland Chinese citizens visiting Matsu & Kinmen. A limited number of individual travelers also manage to visit Taiwan proper through religious exchange or visiting relatives.
From January to August 2025 most tourists came from Japan, Hong Kong and Macao to Taiwan. Generally visitors from East and South East Asia are dominating.
November 26, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Chinese tourists in Taiwan are currently mostly composed of Chinese citizens living overseas visiting Taiwan proper and of Mainland Chinese citizens visiting Matsu & Kinmen. A limited number of individual travelers also manage to visit Taiwan proper through religious exchange or visiting relatives.
Whew, thankfully the Post and not the Times this, er time, lol
November 26, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Whew, thankfully the Post and not the Times this, er time, lol
Well, unfortunately, that's likely the case
"Will New Migrant Work Policies Increase Exploitation?" by @brianhioe.bsky.social
Will New Migrant Work Policies Increase Exploitation? | New Bloom Magazine
Earlier this year, the Lai administration announced plans to relax requirements that individuals aged 80 years or older, or who are between 70 and 79 but suffer from stage 2 cancer or above…
newbloommag.net
November 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Well, unfortunately, that's likely the case
Interesting that the Philippines denies any knowledge purported upgrading of Taiwanese bases that it would carry out at US direction. Just deflection? Or was this a false story?
www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/20...
www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/20...
美建議台灣資助軍事基地升級 菲律賓：未獲知會 | 國際 | 中央社 CNA
美國國會轄下「美中經濟暨安全檢討委員會」（USCC）日前建議由台灣提供資金，協助菲律賓為境內美軍基地升級，菲律賓國防部表示未接獲美方通知，且對相關構想不予置評。
www.cna.com.tw
November 25, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Interesting that the Philippines denies any knowledge purported upgrading of Taiwanese bases that it would carry out at US direction. Just deflection? Or was this a false story?
www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/20...
www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/20...
Part of a series of interviews I did with activists earlier this month while traveling!
"Intergenerational Dialogue as a Means of Change: A Conversation with Levilito R. das Neves Baptista" by @brianhioe.bsky.social
Intergenerational Dialogue as a Means of Change: A Conversation with Levilito R. das Neves Baptista | New Bloom Magazine
A conversation with Timor-Leste youth activist Levilito R. das Neves Baptista on intergenerational dialogue in activism…
newbloommag.net
November 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Part of a series of interviews I did with activists earlier this month while traveling!
Interesting read, odd this has come up as a political issue in the present
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
Why is Taiwan's Legislature suddenly talking about cousin marriage? - Focus Taiwan
Taiwan's Legislative Research Bureau recently issued a report analyzing the possible relaxation of kinship marriage laws, following the high-profile case of a couple in Kaohsiung whose marriage was re...
focustaiwan.tw
November 25, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Interesting read, odd this has come up as a political issue in the present
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
Next month!
Calling all crocheters and knitters!
Crocheting and knitting items to be sold to raise funds for Palestine.
More info:
www.facebook.com/share/17pReF...
Crocheting and knitting items to be sold to raise funds for Palestine.
More info:
www.facebook.com/share/17pReF...
November 25, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Next month!
Next month!
Calling all crocheters and knitters!
Crocheting and knitting items to be sold to raise funds for Palestine.
More info:
www.facebook.com/share/17pReF...
Crocheting and knitting items to be sold to raise funds for Palestine.
More info:
www.facebook.com/share/17pReF...
November 25, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Next month!
The giant robot kind of makes the surveillance state look cool though, lol
focustaiwan.tw/photos/20251...
focustaiwan.tw/photos/20251...
Democracy manifest - Focus Taiwan
An art installation of a robot holding binoculars is displayed at the "Flowers of Freedom" exhibition, which opened Monday at the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei. This permanent exhib...
focustaiwan.tw
November 25, 2025 at 6:29 AM
The giant robot kind of makes the surveillance state look cool though, lol
focustaiwan.tw/photos/20251...
focustaiwan.tw/photos/20251...
Does seem Takaichi is putting the Abe script of managing Trump back into play
November 25, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Does seem Takaichi is putting the Abe script of managing Trump back into play
Reposted by Brian Hioe
By comparison, a total of HK$177 million has been budgeted for publicity for the 2025 LegCo election
www.reo.gov.hk/pdf/estimate...
www.reo.gov.hk/pdf/estimate...
November 25, 2025 at 1:04 AM
By comparison, a total of HK$177 million has been budgeted for publicity for the 2025 LegCo election
www.reo.gov.hk/pdf/estimate...
www.reo.gov.hk/pdf/estimate...
Absolutely deranged. I hope countries clamoring to end asylum or refugee policies for people from Myanmar—including Taiwan—don’t use this as justification for that now
www.uscis.gov/newsroom/new...
www.uscis.gov/newsroom/new...
DHS Terminating Temporary Protected Status for Burma
Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma (Myanmar).
www.uscis.gov
November 25, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Absolutely deranged. I hope countries clamoring to end asylum or refugee policies for people from Myanmar—including Taiwan—don’t use this as justification for that now
www.uscis.gov/newsroom/new...
www.uscis.gov/newsroom/new...
In my latest for @UoN_TRH, tried to situate the rise of Cheng Li-wun alongside other recent historical comparisons--the comparison to Hung Hsiu-chu is, of course, inevitable
Cheng Li-wun: The Second Coming of Hung Hsiu-chu?
Written by Brian Hioe. This article compares the new KMT party chair Cheng Li-wun to Hung Hsiu-chu. Both made waves on the basis of their deep blue political leanings and hardline stance on advocat…
taiwaninsight.org
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 AM
In my latest for @UoN_TRH, tried to situate the rise of Cheng Li-wun alongside other recent historical comparisons--the comparison to Hung Hsiu-chu is, of course, inevitable
Join us for drinks!
Taking place at DAYBREAK on Thursday! Join us for a happy hour focused on sustainability
www.facebook.com/events/15201...
www.facebook.com/events/15201...
November 24, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Join us for drinks!