Donate

Taiwan

Students cheer on speakers during a gathering to mark the first anniversary of student groups stormed the parliament in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, March 18, 2015.

10 years ago, the Sunflower Movement pushed Taiwan away from China

Protest

March 18 marks the 10-year anniversary of a movement that changed Taiwanese politics for a generation. The Sunflower Movement saw hundreds of students occupy Taiwan’s Legislature — demanding that lawmakers reconsider a trade deal they were about to ratify with China.

street

A close race in Taiwan could decide whether it prioritizes sovereignty or closer ties with China

Elections
Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou waves as Ma leaves for China, at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, northern Taiwan, Monday, March 27, 2023.

Former Taiwanese president makes historic visit to China

Attendees at the 228 Memorial eat squid porridge, the traditional meal eaten every year at the Lee family to remember Lee Ruei-Han.

‘Kneel and apologize!’: 76 years after island-wide massacre, Taiwan continues to commemorate — and debate — the tragedy

Conflict & Justice
Many Taipei residents visit the city's historic Dihua Street to buy goods for the Lunar New Year.

Taiwan and China celebrate Lunar New Year amid vastly different COVID levels

Culture
Tell us about your experience accessing The World

We want to hear your feedback so we can keep improving our website, theworld.org. Please fill out this quick survey and let us know your thoughts (your answers will be anonymous). Thanks for your time!

man waiting at airport

Taiwan reopens its borders after years of COVID controls

COVID-19

On Oct. 13, Taiwan finally reopened to tourists after 2 1/2 years of relative isolation. The country had focused border restrictions to keep COVID-19 cases and death rates low. Travelers and tourism business owners say they’re thankful that their main source of revenue is returning.

Visitors look at the Chinese military's KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft during 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China 2021, in Zhuhai in southern China's Guangdong province

Why China’s air force is provoking Taiwan

Top of The World

China’s military flies a record 149 flights over international airspace, prompting Taiwanese defense forces to scramble in response. Also, Australia announces it will stop sending asylum-seekers for processing to Papua New Guinea by the end of the year. And, Germany agrees to extend compensation to thousands of Holocaust survivors.

A military band rehearses for a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Chinese Communist Party at Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, July 1, 2021. Chinese fighter jets, anti-submarine aircraft and combat ships conducted assault drill

Taiwan spokeswoman to China: Quit comparing us to Afghanistan

Global Politics

Whether the United States would go to war to defend Taiwan is an open question. The World’s Patrick Winn spoke with Kolas Yotaka, a former Taiwanese legislator, now a spokeswoman for the Taiwan presidential office. 

Audrey Tang, the Taiwan government's digital minister, in the Executive Yuan building, Taiwan, on November 8, 2017.

How Taiwan is battling coronavirus with tech, crowdsourced data and trust

COVID-19

Taiwan has kept its COVID-19 numbers low compared to other countries: It has seen fewer than 500 cases and seven deaths. Much of that success has been attributed to Taiwan’s approach to technology, led by the government’s digital minister Audrey Tang.

Students eat lunch between dividers to protect them from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the canteen of the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) in Taipei, Taiwan, April 6, 2020.

Taiwan’s success in fighting COVID-19 is overshadowed by global politics

COVID-19

Taiwan leads the world as the most-prepared and best-equipped nation to fight the pandemic. But pressure from China continues to stymie their involvement in international public health care efforts.

We respect your time, attention and privacy

This is a news website, not a click casino. We do NOT employ deceptive behaviors, display annoying ads or use third party cookies and trackers to monetize your visit or help advertisers track you across the internet.

Simply, we ask that you would consider a donation to support the journalism we produce every weekday. Thank you.

Latest Episode

China, the US and the lessons of history
This is The World

The World is a public radio program and podcast that crosses borders and time zones to bring home the stories that matter.

Follow The World

Subscribe to The World’s Latest Edition podcast for free using your favorite podcast player: