What if the government gave you US$1,000 every month? If Andrew Yang is elected, that could become a reality. Yang is the first Taiwanese-American to run for president in the US, and he’s pushing his version of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) to solve the crisis of jobs being replaced by automation.

In today’s Taiwan Insider, we take a break from Taiwan’s presidential race to focus on the Taiwanese-American candidate that has recently qualified for the next round of Democratic Party debates. Once considered a long shot, Andrew Yang is amassing a sizeable following called the “Yang Gang”.

Natalie Tso speaks with the head of the Yang Gang in Taiwan, Peter Wang, to find out more. Also, UBI Taiwan Chairman Tyler Prochazka explains what a universal basic income would look like in Taiwan.

Plus:
*A who’s who of Taiwanese-American politicians
*Pushback against Taiwanese drink shops -- Leslie Liao spills the tea in Hashtag Taiwan
*The Republic of Bubble Tea delights the internet with its bubbly virtual nation
*Find out the price of Taiwan’s most expensive beef noodle soup

Links:
Taipei Yang Gang: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312373652807746/
UBI Taiwan: http://ubitaiwan.org/tw/
Want to stay overnight in the place featured in “Where in Taiwan”? You’ll find the application form here (link in upper right-hand corner): https://www.nightattaiwan.tw/en/index.php


Connect with Taiwanese-American politicians on line:
Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao (R) https://www.transportation.gov/mission/meet-secretary/secretary-elaine-l-chao
Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) https://lieu.house.gov;
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) https://meng.house.gov/
California State Senator Ling Ling Chang (R) https://chang.cssrc.us/
California Assembly Member David Chiu (D) https://a17.asmdc.org/
Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu (D)
https://www.boston.gov/departments/city-council/michelle-wu


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Website: https://en.rti.org.tw
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As Taiwan braces for Typhoon Lekima, China lashes out against the Golden Horse Awards and Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je shakes up politics with his new Taiwan People’s Party.

Today’s Taiwan Insider isn’t all about tempests; for Father’s Day, Natalie Tso offers gift ideas as well as insights into the challenges Taiwanese men face in fatherhood.

Plus:
* An overview of Taiwan’s political parties and the newest independent lawmaker Freddy Lim
* A 1-minute explainer on the Taiwan People’s Party and its link to Taiwan’s first political party
* Controversy over the Yifang Tea Shop and its recent political statements
* A look at male menopause and its symptoms

Links:
Chiang Wei-shui’s Cultural Foundation: http://www.weishui.org/
Freddy Lim’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/limfreddy/
The New Power Party: https://www.newpowerparty.tw/
The latest typhoon news: https://www.cwb.gov.tw/V7e/prevent/typhoon/ty.htm?

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Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je is starting a new political party, which could shake up Taiwan’s presidential race! It’s fueling speculation about who will join forces with him, and whether Foxconn founder Terry Gou will get involved.

Also this week, China is making moves of its own, halting independent tourist visits to Taiwan for its citizens. And what does the US want in Taiwan’s presidential candidates? Former US national security advisor Steve Yates offers insight.

Plus:
*Ghost Month begins on Aug. 1st! Natalie Tso offers a 60-second explainer.
*Could mosquito-munching bats be the key to solving Taiwan’s dengue fever woes?
*Linsanity gets Jeremy-motional during a church sermon in Taiwan

Links:
Mayor Ko Wen-je forms new political party, WATCH the RTI news story: https://en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2001586
Steve Yates: www.steve-yates.com
Jeremy Lin’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jeremylin7
Jeremy Lin’s full sermon: https://www.facebook.com/goodtv/videos/769944130075598/
Formosan Golden Bat’s Home: http://www.goldenbat.org.tw/node/170
Bat Information of Taiwan: http://www.batinfo.org/
Bat Information of Taiwan Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/batinfo/

Special thanks to Chang Heng-Chia, of Formosan Golden Bat’s Home, for contributing some of the photographs in our introduction to the Formosan Golden Bat.

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Email: [email protected]

Caught! A member of President Tsai’s security detail brought US$200,000 worth of cigarettes back to Taiwan when the delegation returned on Monday. The agent used special government privileges to bypass customs.

In this week’s Taiwan Insider, Natalie Tso and Andrew Ryan tell you more about the man at the heart of the scandal: Wu Tsung-hsien (no, not the entertainer Jacky Wu). Also, learn about who has resigned to take the blame as the investigation continues.

Plus:
*footage of a presidential horseride in Colorado
*an explainer about the US’s Taiwan Travel Act, which allows top officials to meet
*Political risk consultant Steve Yates on Tsai’s extended US stopovers and US-Taiwan ties
*Taiwan’s stunning coastlines that inspire films
*a sneak peak at Taiwan’s Oscar factory

Links:
Oriental Beauty Tea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongfang_Meiren
Learn more about the place featured in “Where in Taiwan?”: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/blue-tears-matsu-islands_n_578781b7e4b03fc3ee4f5c07

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Website: https://en.rti.org.tw
Email: [email protected]

It’s official! The controversial populist mayor of Kaohsiung, Han Kuo-yu, will face off against incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen in Taiwan’s 2020 presidential elections. The main opposition party -- the Kuomintang (KMT) -- made the announcement on Monday following nation-wide telephone polls.

The news came during President Tsai’s four-country tour of the Caribbean, which is set to draw to a close on July 22.

In this week’s Taiwan Insider, Natalie Tso and Andrew Ryan delve into the latest stories involving these two top candidates. We hear from two political analysts about Han’s popular appeal. In Taiwan Explained, Natalie also gives a 60-second intro to US transit stops by Taiwan’s presidents, and why they are significant.

Plus:
*doctored images put Han Kuo-yu on Times Square billboards
*an insane price is projected for this year’s top-rated Oriental Beauty Tea
*a glowing picture of a coastline wows visitors to an outlying island
*What happens when Taiwan’s president enters an NY bagel shop?

Links:
Oriental Beauty Tea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongfang_Meiren
Learn more about the place featured in “Where in Taiwan?”: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/blue-tears-matsu-islands_n_578781b7e4b03fc3ee4f5c07

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Website: https://en.rti.org.tw
Email: [email protected]

More than 3,000 people who were wrongly executed or convicted of a crime during the White Terror period in Taiwan have been exonerated. Lawmakers have also passed a new law that declassifies sensitive files. This could shed further light on some of the darkest moments in Taiwan’s history.

In this week’s Taiwan Insider, Natalie Tso and Andrew Ryan put a name and a face on this story, introducing the mysterious death of a promising young professor, Dr. Chen Wen-chen. They also speak with a criminal justice expert, Seton Hall Law Professor Maggie Lewis, about why transitional justice is so important for Taiwan.

Plus:
*the newest member of the Taipei Zoo family
*a Taiwan news cliche bingo chart lights up the internet
*and a surprising place where kids can find animals

Maggie Lewis: https://law.shu.edu/faculty/full-time/margaret-lewis.cfm
Taipei Zoo homepage: https://english.zoo.gov.taipei/
Taiwan News Cliche Bingo Card: https://twitter.com/lnachman32/status/1148563518825779200?s=09&fbclid=IwAR0NB7ouf5ibdwZ7GJjDYNZ3kVVJL6OCh7JG8cMb2rpSk0Iu1W_TdtohUrk
Transitional Justice Commission (CH): https://www.tjc.gov.tw/
Dr. Chen Wen-chen Memorial Foundation & Museum (CH): http://www.cwcmf.org.tw/joomla/


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In about six months, the people of Taiwan head to the polls to vote for president. But who will run against President Tsai Ing-wen, who has already fought off a challenger from within her own Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to win the nomination? All eyes are on the Kuomintang (KMT) primaries which will be decided by polls next week, and which of the five candidates for the nomination will rise to the top.

Will it be pro-China populist Han Kuo-yu, who is stirring up huge rallies, but facing calls for his resignation barely six months into his term as mayor of Kahosiung? Will it be the richest man in Taiwan, Foxconn founder Terry Gou, whose company makes your iPhone? Or will it be the establishment pick: Eric Chu, who is a popular former mayor of New Taipei City, but who lost the 2016 election to Tsai?

In this week’s Taiwan Insider, Natalie Tso and Andrew Ryan offer a closer look at the top KMT candidates and explain how both Taiwan’s largest political parties have changed their primary process. We also hear from political analyst Courtney Donovan Smith about the China policies of the top KMT contenders.

Plus:
*“No Drunk Biking” and other laws that went into effect on July 1
*Taiwan’s most gorgeous scenic spot: Taroko Gorge
*#LeaveNoOneBehind is trending in Taiwan and Hong Kong; we’ll tell you why!
*Shocking footage from the inside of a tornado that struck Taiwan

Links:
Taroko Gorge National Park: https://www.taroko.gov.tw/en
Natalie Tso’s interview with Courtney Donovan Smith on how HK has impacted Taiwan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UNKR5QzeXw
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Website: https://en.rti.org.tw
Email: [email protected]

Citizens in Taiwan took to the streets this week to protest “red media” -- or, Chinese influence in Taiwan’s news outlets. Taiwan’s media landscape is vast with many contenders. Some are regarded as more China-friendly than others. In this week’s Taiwan Insider, Andrew Ryan and Natalie Tso break down the political leanings of 18 of Taiwan’s most prolific media outlets.

Plus:
*Political analyst Courtney Donovan Smith explains how Taiwan’s pro-China media advance Beijing’s agenda.
*Facebook, Line, PTT, Google and Yahoo are working together in Taiwan to combat fake news.
*A look at Taiwan’s unique waterfalls.
*Model students troll Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu, creating a splash on social media!

Links:
More information on the model students that spoke out against Han: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/06/26/2003717605
Additional information on online platforms fighting disinformation: https://en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2001356
Learn more about Chinese influence on Taiwan media:
Ketagalan Media, on China’s global media expansion: http://www.ketagalanmedia.com/2019/06/23/red-infiltration-reality-chinas-global-media-expansion-part-1/?fbclid=IwAR2RAdRAuK_KI0g0ej1t_TL9w3TLyTNuAczJtTbH_QRrz_0UOuJrDGW2hjY
Taiwan Sentinel, on Cross-strait media summit: https://sentinel.tw/more-than-70-participants-from-taiwanese-media-industry-attend-4th-cross-strait-media-summit-in-beijing/
(Chinese) 公視P# 新聞實驗室: https://youtu.be/mVEItYOsXjM

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Taiwan and Hong Kong have both been exercising their democracy this week. Two million Hong Kongers hit the streets last Sunday in what some say was the largest protest the city’s ever seen. It was a continuation and extension of public outcry over a Chinese extradition bill. This week also saw an apology from Hong Kong’s chief executive, who has suspended, but failed to withdraw the bill.

In today’s show, we hear from a Hong Kong bookseller who escaped to Taiwan and has some pretty strong words for the public.

Taiwan, on the other hand, has made some major changes to the way it holds referendums. That’s after a public outcry last year over long wait times at the ballot box. In today’s Taiwan Explained, we’ll detail how the changes will affect future elections.

Plus:
*Taiwan’s tallest skyscraper is now allowing people up to the exclusive 101st floor
*We test your knowledge about Taipei 101’s digits
*It’s job search season, but are companies playing fair? The British Council’s Susana Galván talks about recruiting diversity
*A Thai photographer captures an unexpected Taiwan, creating a stir on-line

Links:
-Thai photographer, Kan Kankavee’s Taiwan collection: https://www.facebook.com/k.kankavee/photos/pcb.2224772867608580/2224772020941998/?type=3&theater
-Watch the Taipei 101 damper move more than ever before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqELmBNyWfU
-Taipei 101’s Observatory (not yet updated for trips to the 101st floor): https://www.taipei-101.com.tw/en/observatory-info.aspx
-Or grab some joe at the Starbucks on the 35th floor: https://danielfooddiary.com/2017/02/16/starbucks-taipei101/
-British Council Taiwan: https://www.britishcouncil.org.tw/en
-Orchestrating Impartiality: The Impact of “Blind” Auditions on Female Musicians: http://gap.hks.harvard.edu/orchestrating-impartiality-impact-%E2%80%9Cblind%E2%80%9D-auditions-female-musicians

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Images of tear gas and rubber bullets in the streets have kept us glued to the television and the internet this week; we’ve got Hong Kong on our mind.

Today’s Taiwan Insider takes a deep dive into the story that launched the largest protests that Hong Kong has seen since its handover to China in 1997. It may seem like this story is taking place far away, but you’ll want to hear how it’s connected not only to Taiwan, but to anyone who passes through the city.

We’ll explain the proposed law which would allow extradition of people from Hong Kong to China, and why that’s a concern to many. Also, find out about the brutal murder case in Taiwan that prompted the push for the law, and hear how Taiwan’s presidential candidates responded to the unrest.

Plus
*Twitter users are holding Taiwan’s mainstream media accountable
*Octogenarians get their first wedding photos taken
*A massive, creative dolphin is educating the public

For more English coverage in Taiwan about the Hong Kong protests:
*Focus Taiwan: http://focustaiwan.tw/
*Ketagalan Media: https://www.ketagalanmedia.com/
*New Bloom: https://newbloommag.net/