Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

James Lin

@jamestwotree.bsky.social

1.9K followers 870 following 76 posts

Historian of Taiwan & the World. Associate Professor, University of Washington Jackson School. Author of In the Global Vanguard: Agrarian Development and the Making of Modern Taiwan (University of California Press, 2025) Website: ocf.io/jameslin he/him

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Apr 4

Open access publication! My book is now available open access for everyone to read and download free on the @ucpress.bsky.social website: www.ucpress.edu/books/in-the... A brief thread about the book /1

In the Global Vanguard by James Lin - Paper

Scholarship is a powerful tool for changing how people think, plan, and govern. By giving voice to bright minds and bold ideas, we seek to foster understanding and drive progressive change.

www.ucpress.edu

3 15 34

Reposted by James Lin

Albert Wu 吳孟軒 @albertmwu.bsky.social · 19d

In our latest post, we show how arguments that cast Taiwan as a "destabilizer" are troubling and flatly untrue. Taiwan isn't the one bending the world order. Taiwan's story deserves to be seen in its own right, not as a scapegoat. ampleroad.substack.com/p/a-sense-of...

A Sense of Dread: Isolationists under Trump Lay the Groundwork for Abandoning Taiwan, Marking a Radical Departure in Foreign Policy

Hello everyone,

ampleroad.substack.com

8 18

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · 21d

A careful, deep dive into the complicated legacies of colonialism, war, and historical memory through Taiwanese veterans and comfort women of the Second Sino-Japanese War/WWII.

Jordyn Haime 韩新慧 @jordynhaime.bsky.social · 21d

I wrote for ChinaTalk about Taiwanese society's attempt to confront its complicated WWII legacy: those who fought under Japan, against the Chinese, as colonial subjects www.chinatalk.media/p/taiwan-con...

Taiwan Confronts its WWII Legacy

An exploration

www.chinatalk.media

1 4

Reposted by James Lin

eileen chengyin chow @chowleen.bsky.social · Sep 9

In my father's poli sci classroom in 1970s Taiwan, he would always call out the 'spy students' in the back: "Take good notes! Spicy bit!" The class would titter. Even the report-maker would look a bit abashed.

In this A&M student's righteous "Dear Leader" invocation, there was no shame felt at all.

Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · Sep 9

A professor at Texas A&M taught… something related to gender that offended a student, who secretly filmed herself objecting. That video is picked up by TX legislators, who demand her firing, and now the dean and dept head have been fired.

www.kbtx.com/2025/09/09/a...

A&M Dean removed following student complaints over curriculum

The Department of Justice has also acknowledged the situation and said it would be investigating.

www.kbtx.com

10 180 590

Reposted by James Lin

Eli Friedman @elifriedman.bsky.social · Aug 22

Reviewing a book manuscript is hard work but always worth it when it's for a good press. Particularly excited to get my hands on @jamestwotree.bsky.social's book

1 2 7

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Aug 23

Thanks for getting my book! (I assign Morris’ book in my undergrad class, and Dittmer’s edited volume has some good chapters too!)

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Aug 20

Honored to have @jamesbaron.bsky.social, who previously worked in the development field in Taiwan, review my book In the Global Vanguard for Taipei Times! www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...

Book review: ‘Straw hat diplomats’: The rise and fall of Taiwan’s Cold War development diplomacy - Taipei Times

Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan

www.taipeitimes.com

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Aug 5

Excited to read @heguisen.bsky.social’s new book Ghost Nation!

1 3 11

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Aug 1

Call for papers: "New Directions in Taiwan History" workshop to be held at University of Washington, Seattle, on February 26-27, 2026. Deadline to apply is October 10, 2025. Please share widely! For application instructions: jsis.washington.edu/taiwan/works...

Workshop: New Directions in Taiwan History - Taiwan Studies Program

New Directions in Taiwan History – Taiwan at the Center and at the Margins February 26-27, 2026 University of Washington, Seattle Hosted by the UW Taiwan Studies Program This two-day workshop will bring together scholars working across the temporal range of Taiwan history to share and discuss works-in-progress and findings from their research projects. We

jsis.washington.edu

3 4

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Jul 15

Excited to see the translation of Kaori Lai 賴香吟's Portraits in White 白色畫像 published in English by Columbia UP! Translated by Sylvia Li-chun Lin and Howard Goldblatt, commissioned by Ian Rowen, and a historical introduction written by yours truly. cup.columbia.edu/book/portrai...

1 3

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · May 19

This is a super fun wordle variant

1 2

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · May 13

Reminder: I’ll be talking about my new book this Thursday!

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Apr 30

I'll be giving a talk on my book in Seattle and online (hybrid) on May 15 at 3:30pm (Pacific). Please join in person or online! jsis.washington.edu/taiwan/2025/...

MAY 15 - 'In the Global Vanguard: Agrarian Development and the Making of Modern Taiwan' with James Lin, UW - Taiwan Studies Program

In just half a century, Taiwan transformed from an agricultural colony into an economic power, spurred by efforts of the authoritarian Republic of China government in land reform, farmers associations, and improved crop varieties. Yet overlooked is how Taiwan brought these practices to the developing world. In the Global Vanguard elucidates the history and impact

jsis.washington.edu

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · May 7

You can grab my book on sale for 40% off! www.ucpress.edu/books/in-the...

2 9

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · May 5

My first book review! I am grateful to @angusbylsma.bsky.social for closely engaging with my book. The critique is fair, and it's exciting to see how the book is sparking conversations.

Angus Bylsma @angusbylsma.bsky.social · May 5

For this week’s review, I read @jamestwotree.bsky.social’s new history of Taiwanese agrarian development at home and abroad, In the Global Vanguard. Land reform, Africa, and Straw Hat Diplomats!

Development and Diplomacy

In the Global Vanguard: Agrarian Development and the Making of Modern Taiwan, James Lin, 2025.

unevenandcombinedthoughts.substack.com

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Apr 30

I'll be giving a talk on my book in Seattle and online (hybrid) on May 15 at 3:30pm (Pacific). Please join in person or online! jsis.washington.edu/taiwan/2025/...

MAY 15 - 'In the Global Vanguard: Agrarian Development and the Making of Modern Taiwan' with James Lin, UW - Taiwan Studies Program

jsis.washington.edu

7 18

Reposted by James Lin

leoclchu.bsky.social @leoclchu.bsky.social · Apr 23

I'll talk about rodent control in postwar #Taiwan tomorrow

www.eventbrite.com.au/e/counting-r...

Counting Rats, Showing Progress

Join us for a webinar by Dr Leo Chu that traces rat eradication's biopolitics in postwar Taiwan

www.eventbrite.com.au

4 5

Reposted by James Lin

Michael Pettis @michaelpettis.bsky.social · Apr 15

1/6
SCMP: "Yu has been outspoken in his advocacy for the reduction of China’s US Treasury bill holdings and has advised Beijing to stay alert for any attempts to use the country’s foreign assets against it."

sc.mp/8tmps?utm_so... via @scmpnews

Economist says China’s overseas assets at risk as trade war hits boiling point

Yu Yongding, a former central bank adviser, says Beijing’s foreign holdings could become another battleground in the US-China trade war.

sc.mp

3 15 69

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Apr 13

Taiwan has a prominent role in this story on Somaliland www.nytimes.com/2025/04/12/w...

How Trump Offers This African Territory Its ‘Biggest Opportunity’

After years of building relationships with congressional Republicans and conservative think tanks, officials in Somaliland believe President Trump will grant their ultimate wish: statehood.

www.nytimes.com

4 7

Reposted by James Lin

Wayne Soon @waynesoon.bsky.social · Apr 10

Congratulations @jamestwotree.bsky.social! Looking forward to reading this very important book!

1 3

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Apr 5

Thanks Venus!

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Apr 5

Thank you, Tadashi!

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Apr 4

Thanks yet again!

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Apr 4

Thanks for ordering it, Juliet! I didn't know copies shipped already! This is the first time I've seen it "in the wild"!

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Apr 4

Thank you!

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Apr 4

I forgot to mention, if you're curious about how this book came to be, I wrote about that personal history in the UC Press blog: www.ucpress.edu/blog-posts/h...

How Taiwanese Vegetables Became the Envy of the World

Author James Lin on the rural history that defined a generation of Taiwanese.

www.ucpress.edu

James Lin @jamestwotree.bsky.social · Apr 4

Finally, I owe thanks to everyone who made this book possible, from friends and family who supported me on the way, to mentors and peer reviewers who spent hours reading this from dissertation to manuscript, and to UC Press and my editor for their patience and financial support!

2 3