Excellent events for Taiwan Studies Summer School programme @soasuni.bsky.social last couple of weeks. Managed to catch film screenings and talks by @lnachman32.bsky.social, including for new book, which argues that unique conditions in contested states drive formation of movement parties.

Great workshop on best practices from Ukraine and Taiwan for democratic resilience @_EuropeanValues. Here, a lighter moment from Kuo Chiayo of Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Association that nonetheless highlights the common fight!

Honoured to moderate panel discussion on hybrid threats at 4th Czechia-Taiwan Forum in Taipei today. Great insights on challenges small democracies like Czechia and Taiwan face from malign state actors, offered by a panel of expert speakers. @europeanvalues.bsky.social @matejsimalcik.bsky.social

Two screenings of films about Ukraine last 2 days -- four shorts from The Reckoning Project (PIJL) at Daybreak @newbloommag.net on Mon and longer doc from Czech NGO People in Need at Hsin Hsin cinema, hosted by @europeanvalues.bsky.social Poignant reminder Ukraine must not be left hanging

Conspicuous by its absence at this third commemoration, here in Taipei, of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was any mention of the two pals making deals in Saudi Arabia. I'm assuming this was deliberate and think it was probably a good idea.

Good turnout at Daybreak for a discussion of @brianhioe.bsky.social's novel 'Taipei at Daybreak' and Wen Liu's 'Feeling Asian American'. Illuminating, intellectually challenging exchange of ideas (at least for this listener!) @newbloommag.net

Nice riverside ride home after insightful talk hosted by @europeanvalues.bsky.social at Czech Hub. Danish diplomat Jonas Parello-Plesner, executive director of @aodemocracies.bsky.social in conversation with Emily Y. Wu about his book 'The Battle for Taiwan' and other issues. @yehaoqin.bsky.social

At Touat Books for screening of thought-provoking 'Israelism' documentary by Amnesty Taiwan English-speaking group.

Want to know about Taiwan's plains indigenous people? Nick Wright is your man. Great introduction to their customs, festivals, languages, and locations around Taiwan @NTNU today.

At Meet Taipei. Some amazing tech on display here, including this fun app from a company called digimax, which turned me into an 18C mandarin in the style of Italian Jesuit court painter Giuseppe Castiglione!

Informative and thought-provoking talk from Joah McGee from the Insight Myanmar podcast at Daybreak in Wanhua, with @brianhioe.bsky.social @newbloommag.net

土地公 warning would-be litterbugs outside Hukou Catholic Church. Taiwan, all over! 新年快樂, all!

New Year staples at my market: 'pineapple bouquets', gargantuan satsumas (never seen this big and, despite an elderly customer's insistence to the contrary, 老闆娘 said they were NG for eating), and kumquat trees. Auspicious items, cos of colour and homophony. Despite ribbons, girl wasn't on offer!

At the Regent, Taipei, for EU-Taiwan Exchange Forum on migrant and fisher rights.

UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights member Pichamon Yeophantong speaking via video link at TTNC Watch  labour rights international conference in Taipei.