Michael Turton
@michaelturton.bsky.social
Boardgamer (now: Vantage). Cyclist. Taipei Times feature writer every Mon & Thurs with Notes from Central Taiwan.
See Christine Lu's starter pack for Taiwan Studies: https://bsky.app/starter-pack-short/EM1VG8y
See Christine Lu's starter pack for Taiwan Studies: https://bsky.app/starter-pack-short/EM1VG8y
Reposted by Michael Turton
This is interesting reading in light of current developments in other jurisdictions.
hrichina.substack.com/p/trial-tran...
hrichina.substack.com/p/trial-tran...
Trial Transcript of General Xu Qinxian, Former Commander in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Who Refused to Comply with Martial Law Order During 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests
Footage of Xu Qinxian’s 6-hour trial for refusing to violently suppress students is revealed for the first time.
hrichina.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:07 AM
This is interesting reading in light of current developments in other jurisdictions.
hrichina.substack.com/p/trial-tran...
hrichina.substack.com/p/trial-tran...
Reposted by Michael Turton
Wind&Bones Books is a small indie press. We also run projects exploring writing, storytelling and philosophy for social change. Based between Scotland and Taiwan. Directed by Dr Hannah Stevens & Dr Will Buckingham.
books.windandbones.com
books.windandbones.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Wind&Bones Books is a small indie press. We also run projects exploring writing, storytelling and philosophy for social change. Based between Scotland and Taiwan. Directed by Dr Hannah Stevens & Dr Will Buckingham.
books.windandbones.com
books.windandbones.com
Reposted by Michael Turton
The EU and its member states can start by encouraging industry-led initiatives and dual-use technology collaboration to strengthen Taiwan’s deterrence and safeguard European interests.
https://ecfr.eu/publication/the-taiwan-test-why-europe-should-help-deter-china/
https://ecfr.eu/publication/the-taiwan-test-why-europe-should-help-deter-china/
The Taiwan test: Why Europe should help deter China
China’s military capabilities are growing and its actions in Europe are becoming more disruptive. The EU should support Taiwan with dual-use technologies and defence cooperation to send a clear signal...
ecfr.eu
November 29, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The EU and its member states can start by encouraging industry-led initiatives and dual-use technology collaboration to strengthen Taiwan’s deterrence and safeguard European interests.
https://ecfr.eu/publication/the-taiwan-test-why-europe-should-help-deter-china/
https://ecfr.eu/publication/the-taiwan-test-why-europe-should-help-deter-china/
Reposted by Michael Turton
Taiwan: Outgrowing China Without Trying — A mature economy just hit 7.4% growth while Beijing fights deflation, and the whole thing happened by accident.
Taiwan: Outgrowing China Without Trying
A mature economy just hit 7.4% growth while Beijing fights deflation, and the whole thing happened by accident.
www.bullionbite.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Taiwan: Outgrowing China Without Trying — A mature economy just hit 7.4% growth while Beijing fights deflation, and the whole thing happened by accident.
Reposted by Michael Turton
Beijing seeks to use the row it started with Japan about PM Takaichi’s Taiwan contingency remarks in parliament to elicit support for its One China interpretation of the post-WWII international order.
China’s foreign ministry has been consistently pushing for expressions of support. A thread:
China’s foreign ministry has been consistently pushing for expressions of support. A thread:
Beijing uses China-Japan spat to pressure world to pick sides on Taiwan – Bloomberg: ‘“It only needs silence, because silence for China means acquiescence, acceptance,” said Alicia Garcia Herrero’
China Uses Japan Spat to Pressure World to Pick Sides on Taiwan
In the roughly three weeks since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi commented on a possible Taiwan contingency in parliament, China has unleashed economic reprisals, nationalist barbs and a diplom...
www.bloomberg.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Beijing seeks to use the row it started with Japan about PM Takaichi’s Taiwan contingency remarks in parliament to elicit support for its One China interpretation of the post-WWII international order.
China’s foreign ministry has been consistently pushing for expressions of support. A thread:
China’s foreign ministry has been consistently pushing for expressions of support. A thread:
Reposted by Michael Turton
Taiwan’s Chi Po-lin Satellite (齊柏林衛星), first in the Formosat-8 constellation, has been successfully launched into orbit. 🇹🇼
focustaiwan.tw/sci-tech/202...
focustaiwan.tw/sci-tech/202...
1st satellite of Taiwan's Formosat-8 constellation successfully launched - Focus Taiwan
The first satellite of the Taiwan-developed Formosat-8 constellation project successfully lifted off early Saturday morning (Taipei time) from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, according ...
focustaiwan.tw
November 29, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Taiwan’s Chi Po-lin Satellite (齊柏林衛星), first in the Formosat-8 constellation, has been successfully launched into orbit. 🇹🇼
focustaiwan.tw/sci-tech/202...
focustaiwan.tw/sci-tech/202...
Reposted by Michael Turton
For more about how Yonaguni could factor into a multi-country defense of Taiwan, see: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
November 29, 2025 at 3:27 PM
For more about how Yonaguni could factor into a multi-country defense of Taiwan, see: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
What did Trump tell Takaichi? Apparently the WSJ report is fiction. The writer, Lingling Wei, is blocking people who question is, on Twitter. Meanwhile the "confirmation" of her report is PRC state media sources.
November 29, 2025 at 9:04 PM
What did Trump tell Takaichi? Apparently the WSJ report is fiction. The writer, Lingling Wei, is blocking people who question is, on Twitter. Meanwhile the "confirmation" of her report is PRC state media sources.
The PRC has always wanted Okinawa. But now it is making that desire public. This is a Takaichi success.
🍊👑♥️💰🇷🇺
🇨🇳🇯🇵🇦🇺
The American Version of Putin's Russia necessarily implies and feeds the destruction of the rules-based intl order.
Via @drmalcolmdavis.bsky.social at ✖️:
China now laying the basis for a territorial claim against Japan's Ryukyu Islands including Okinawa, in addition to Taiwan and more.
🇨🇳🇯🇵🇦🇺
The American Version of Putin's Russia necessarily implies and feeds the destruction of the rules-based intl order.
Via @drmalcolmdavis.bsky.social at ✖️:
China now laying the basis for a territorial claim against Japan's Ryukyu Islands including Okinawa, in addition to Taiwan and more.
November 29, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The PRC has always wanted Okinawa. But now it is making that desire public. This is a Takaichi success.
Reposted by Michael Turton
Liyu Lake in Hualien hosts Taiwan's national dragon boat races during Asia's Dragon Boat Festival. This year, it hosted the international competitions. 😎
My Portfolio:
portfolio.pixelfed.social/JoeGarrity
#landscapephotography #landscape #naturephotography #nature #lake #taiwan #asia #photography
My Portfolio:
portfolio.pixelfed.social/JoeGarrity
#landscapephotography #landscape #naturephotography #nature #lake #taiwan #asia #photography
November 29, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Liyu Lake in Hualien hosts Taiwan's national dragon boat races during Asia's Dragon Boat Festival. This year, it hosted the international competitions. 😎
My Portfolio:
portfolio.pixelfed.social/JoeGarrity
#landscapephotography #landscape #naturephotography #nature #lake #taiwan #asia #photography
My Portfolio:
portfolio.pixelfed.social/JoeGarrity
#landscapephotography #landscape #naturephotography #nature #lake #taiwan #asia #photography
Reposted by Michael Turton
The existence of Japan, Korea and Taiwan should disabuse us all of the notion that freedom and democracy have something to do with either Christianity or European racial characteristics.
It really seems to come out of national interest and industrialism.
It really seems to come out of national interest and industrialism.
🧵I often get mobbed when I say this, but it was a mistake for liberals & leftists to cede "western civilization" to the fascists. "The West" and "Western" are important political identities. Abandoning them is no smarter than refusing to offer a positive vision of American national identity.
November 28, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The existence of Japan, Korea and Taiwan should disabuse us all of the notion that freedom and democracy have something to do with either Christianity or European racial characteristics.
It really seems to come out of national interest and industrialism.
It really seems to come out of national interest and industrialism.
Reposted by Michael Turton
Chinese researchers say silencing Starlink over Taiwan is possible – but only with 1,000 to 2,000 coordinated jamming drones and enormous resources, writes Stephen Chen.
#Starlink #Taiwan #China #MilitaryTechnology #ElectronicWarfare #Geopolitics
#Starlink #Taiwan #China #MilitaryTechnology #ElectronicWarfare #Geopolitics
Silencing Starlink over Taiwan would be a massive military challenge
Chinese scientists have modelled how Starlink could be jammed over an area the size of Taiwan – and found it would take an unprecedented scale of coordinated electronic warfare.
johnmenadue.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Chinese researchers say silencing Starlink over Taiwan is possible – but only with 1,000 to 2,000 coordinated jamming drones and enormous resources, writes Stephen Chen.
#Starlink #Taiwan #China #MilitaryTechnology #ElectronicWarfare #Geopolitics
#Starlink #Taiwan #China #MilitaryTechnology #ElectronicWarfare #Geopolitics
Reposted by Michael Turton
26 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 23 out of 26 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central and southwestern ADIZ.
November 29, 2025 at 1:02 AM
26 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 23 out of 26 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central and southwestern ADIZ.
Reposted by Michael Turton
"Migrant workers coming to Taiwan are assigned a broker before they arrive. The brokers have incredible sway over the workers’ lives. They manage their paperwork, accommodation, meals, transport, insurance, and other aspects."
restofworld.org/2025/taiwan-...
restofworld.org/2025/taiwan-...
Taiwan’s chip plants run on migrant workers. Job brokers run their lives
In Taiwan’s AI-fueled chip boom, brokers control everything from paychecks to dorm beds, leaving workers feeling trapped and exploited.
restofworld.org
November 29, 2025 at 1:15 AM
"Migrant workers coming to Taiwan are assigned a broker before they arrive. The brokers have incredible sway over the workers’ lives. They manage their paperwork, accommodation, meals, transport, insurance, and other aspects."
restofworld.org/2025/taiwan-...
restofworld.org/2025/taiwan-...
Reposted by Michael Turton
The U.S. request (via reporting) for Tokyo to “lower the volume” on Taiwan — if true — demonstrates de facto pressure toward de-escalation, not alliance solidarity over Taiwan as a red-line.
It sounds like you are agreeing with me: the US decision not to contradict China’s controversial take of US position on Taiwan suggests that Trump was trying to curry favor with Beijing and could well have tried to restrain Takaichi or at the very least refused to offer any support.
November 29, 2025 at 1:48 AM
The U.S. request (via reporting) for Tokyo to “lower the volume” on Taiwan — if true — demonstrates de facto pressure toward de-escalation, not alliance solidarity over Taiwan as a red-line.
Chinese Bamboo Partridge
Whip Scorpion
Sika Deer
Mikado Pheasant
Formosan Rock Macaque
Whip Scorpion
Sika Deer
Mikado Pheasant
Formosan Rock Macaque
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
Magnificent frigatebird
Catalina Island fox
Formosan rock macaque
Bison
Alligator
All seen at U.S. national parks except the macaques, which I saw at Toroko National Park in Taiwan.
Magnificent frigatebird
Catalina Island fox
Formosan rock macaque
Bison
Alligator
All seen at U.S. national parks except the macaques, which I saw at Toroko National Park in Taiwan.
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
Black Bear
Brown Bear
Polar Bear
Whatever species of monkey likes to hang out around the Taj Mahal
The asshole wild horses of Assateaugue Island
Black Bear
Brown Bear
Polar Bear
Whatever species of monkey likes to hang out around the Taj Mahal
The asshole wild horses of Assateaugue Island
November 29, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Chinese Bamboo Partridge
Whip Scorpion
Sika Deer
Mikado Pheasant
Formosan Rock Macaque
Whip Scorpion
Sika Deer
Mikado Pheasant
Formosan Rock Macaque
Reposted by Michael Turton
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China's campaign is essential to combat China's efforts to assert a claim over Taiwan by deliberately misinterpreting UN Resolution 2758
"Globally, every democracy must join this legislative template to definitively reject China’s egregious distortion of UN […]
"Globally, every democracy must join this legislative template to definitively reject China’s egregious distortion of UN […]
Original post on mstdn.social
mstdn.social
November 29, 2025 at 3:45 AM
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China's campaign is essential to combat China's efforts to assert a claim over Taiwan by deliberately misinterpreting UN Resolution 2758
"Globally, every democracy must join this legislative template to definitively reject China’s egregious distortion of UN […]
"Globally, every democracy must join this legislative template to definitively reject China’s egregious distortion of UN […]
Reposted by Michael Turton
So why is the KMT trying to go hard on this issue now? I have no idea. Part of it is that the Lai administration seemed interested in making the issue of Chinese spouses of Taiwanese a battleground issue in the wake of the "Yaya in Taiwan" debacle
"Why Is the KMT Attempting to Fast-Track Allowing Chinese Nationals to Hold Public Office?" by @brianhioe.bsky.social
Why Is the KMT Attempting to Fast-Track Allowing Chinese Nationals to Hold Public Office? | New Bloom Magazine
The KMT courts controversy once again, with plans by the party to fast-track a bill that could allow PRC nationals to take up public office without giving up their original nationality…
newbloommag.net
November 29, 2025 at 4:49 AM
So why is the KMT trying to go hard on this issue now? I have no idea. Part of it is that the Lai administration seemed interested in making the issue of Chinese spouses of Taiwanese a battleground issue in the wake of the "Yaya in Taiwan" debacle
Reposted by Michael Turton
The ridgeline behind New Taipei’s Zhonghe District is crisscrossed with a network of trails and one that I’d been interested in exploring for a while was the one that starts from Yuantong Temple.
taiwantrailsandtales.com/2025/11/22/y...
taiwantrailsandtales.com/2025/11/22/y...
YUANTONG TEMPLE TRAIL (圓通寺步道)
Yuantong Temple is an (almost) century-old religious establishment built into the hillside of New Taipei’s Zhonghe District. The ridgeline behind it is crisscrossed with a network of trails w…
taiwantrailsandtales.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:51 AM
The ridgeline behind New Taipei’s Zhonghe District is crisscrossed with a network of trails and one that I’d been interested in exploring for a while was the one that starts from Yuantong Temple.
taiwantrailsandtales.com/2025/11/22/y...
taiwantrailsandtales.com/2025/11/22/y...
Reposted by Michael Turton
I’m quoted in the Wall Street Journal discussing US ambiguity towards Taiwan.
Thank you kindly @joyuwang.bsky.social for reaching out!
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
Thank you kindly @joyuwang.bsky.social for reaching out!
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
Trump Is Silent on Taiwan After Talking to Xi—and That Is Fine With Taipei
Taiwan is making the most of the U.S.’s policy of “strategic ambiguity,” even as President Trump’s stance raises concern for some.
www.wsj.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:14 AM
I’m quoted in the Wall Street Journal discussing US ambiguity towards Taiwan.
Thank you kindly @joyuwang.bsky.social for reaching out!
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
Thank you kindly @joyuwang.bsky.social for reaching out!
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
Reposted by Michael Turton
An astute analysis by @donovan-smith.bsky.social of how President Lai cleverly publicized his proposed US$40 billion special defense budget and maneuvered the KMT and TPP into a potentially tricky political corner. Lai maximized a bad hand very well in my view.
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
Donovan’s Deep Dives: President Lai’s big bucks defense budget blitz - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:53 AM
An astute analysis by @donovan-smith.bsky.social of how President Lai cleverly publicized his proposed US$40 billion special defense budget and maneuvered the KMT and TPP into a potentially tricky political corner. Lai maximized a bad hand very well in my view.
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
Reposted by Michael Turton
Donovan’s Deep Dives: President Lai’s big bucks defence budget blitz – Courtney Donovan Smith for Taipei Times: ‘it appears that public opinion, constituent buy-in and blunting expected potential KMT criticisms were all carefully considered.’
Donovan’s Deep Dives: President Lai’s big bucks defense budget blitz - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Donovan’s Deep Dives: President Lai’s big bucks defence budget blitz – Courtney Donovan Smith for Taipei Times: ‘it appears that public opinion, constituent buy-in and blunting expected potential KMT criticisms were all carefully considered.’
Reposted by Michael Turton
The Taiwan test: Why Europe should help deter China – Estelle Huang for ECFR: ‘The EU and its member states can start by encouraging industry-led initiatives and dual-use technology collaboration to strengthen Taiwan’s deterrence and safeguard European interests.’
The Taiwan test: Why Europe should help deter China
China’s military capabilities are growing and its actions in Europe are becoming more disruptive. The EU should support Taiwan with dual-use technologies and defence cooperation to send a clear signal...
ecfr.eu
November 26, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The Taiwan test: Why Europe should help deter China – Estelle Huang for ECFR: ‘The EU and its member states can start by encouraging industry-led initiatives and dual-use technology collaboration to strengthen Taiwan’s deterrence and safeguard European interests.’
PRC state media questioning whether Okinawa belongs to Japan. One thing that Takaichi did was to get the PRC to publicly reveal that it lusts after Okinawa as well. Everyone out here knows it, of course.
November 29, 2025 at 10:24 AM
PRC state media questioning whether Okinawa belongs to Japan. One thing that Takaichi did was to get the PRC to publicly reveal that it lusts after Okinawa as well. Everyone out here knows it, of course.
Reposted by Michael Turton
The new regulations institutionalize a system known for its abuses and often used against religious dissidents.
China’s New Residential Surveillance Rules: Reform or Consolidation of an Abusive System?
The new regulations institutionalize a system known for its abuses and often used against religious dissidents.
bitterwinter.org
November 28, 2025 at 9:31 PM
The new regulations institutionalize a system known for its abuses and often used against religious dissidents.