China's Xi Jinping held a rare meeting with Cheng Li-wun, the leader of Taiwan's opposition KMT party. It comes ahead of a summit with President Trump, where Xi is likely to bring up his opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan ... w/ @ashishval.bsky.social www.npr.org/2026/04/10/n...

Taiwan's opposition leader arrives in China for a 'Journey of Peace' The visit takes place ahead of President Trump's own summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month, where Taiwan is expected to be a top agenda item.

My latest for @npr.org alongside @jpak25.bsky.social : Taiwan's opposition leader Cheng Li-wun may meet Xi Jinping later this week. She says the safety of Taiwan is her priority, though Taiwan's government doubts her visit will lower tensions. www.npr.org/2026/04/07/n...

Taiwan reacts to U.S. intelligence report about China's intentions A recent U.S. intelligence report reignited an already contentious debate in Taiwan over China's intentions and how Taipei should reasonably defend itself against its powerful neighbor.

My latest for @npr.org : A report by the US director of national intelligence assessed China likely does not plan to invade Taiwan in 2027. It's reignited partisan divisions in Taiwan as lawmakers debate $40 billion in defense spending to counter China. www.npr.org/2026/03/31/n...

I joined @cnnipr.bsky.social's One World with Zain Asher to discuss the impact of the Iran war on Asian economies. Highlights: China is relatively secure. High-income East Asia is stressed but surviving. Lower-income nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh are especially hard-hit. Here's a clip:

Some Gen Z Americans can't stop 'Chinamaxxing' Despite rising tensions between the world's two largest economies, a growing number of young Americans are becoming captivated by China, as seen in the online trend "Chinamaxxing."

Despite rising tensions between the world's two largest economies, a growing number of young Americans are becoming captivated by China, as seen in the online trend "Chinamaxxing." n.pr/4sIOpGg

Glad you appreciated Ai-men!

Some Gen Z Americans can't stop 'Chinamaxxing' Despite rising tensions between the world's two largest economies, a growing number of young Americans are becoming captivated by China, as seen in the online trend "Chinamaxxing."

My latest for @npr.org : Why are Gen Z Americans obsessed with China? Livestreamer Hasan Piker told me life in the US "is just getting worse... then I turn on TikTok, and I see a video of Chongqing. They've got trains everywhere and it's this fascinating city." www.npr.org/2026/03/13/n...

新年快樂 🔥 🐎

My latest for @npr.org : In China, the year of the horse has taken on an uncanny association with Draco Malfoy. Take a listen to find out why: www.npr.org/2026/02/18/n...

I regularly offer advice to aspiring journalists from marginalized communities on navigating the industry. The Washington Post layoffs are just the latest in a series of events that have genuinely left me wondering what to say to these people today.

Incredible graphic from NYT showing the depth of Xi Jinping's purge of China's military leadership in recent years: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Glad you appreciated the piece!

I'll do my best

Thanks "Puddles"! Your game livestreams are so wholesome too

Inside Taiwan's 'butterfly kingdom,' a rare natural wonder takes place every year Every winter, a marvelous spectacle occurs as hundreds of thousands of butterflies travel south across Taiwan in one of the world’s most rare migrations.

Taiwan is home to over 400 butterfly species, 55 of which are found nowhere else in the world. For National Geographic, I reported on the migratory purple crow butterflies, which gather in the tens of thousands in valleys like Maolin in southern Taiwan every winter.

The Taiwanese president's proposal to hike defense spending faces gridlock at home Opposition parties are slamming the brakes on billions in defense funding as the China escalates military pressure.

My latest for @npr.org : Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te has promised billions in additional defense spending to counter escalating military threats from China. But his ambitions have stalled in the legislature, where opposition parties have blocked his special defense budget eight times so far.

China's economy is rising, but many citizens are left behind, analysts say China's National Bureau of Statistics released data on its 2025 GDP growth Monday. Analysts say it reveals strong economic growth for the country, but ordinary people still face deep challenges.

Latest for @npr.org : Based on today's economic data "China hasn't just survived the trade war with the US, it has in fact thrived," says @eurasiagroup.net analyst Dan Wang. But that strength isn't reflected in Chinese consumer spending. www.npr.org/2026/01/19/n...

Migrant workers marched to the Legislative Yuan in Taipei this afternoon, calling for an end to the 12-year time limit to how long they can live in Taiwan. They dressed up as expired meat and bombs with 12-year fuses, arguing that the time limit treats their bodies and labor as disposable.

Weeks after deadly floods, many Amis Indigenous residents of Hualien held a rally outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei to protest disaster recovery measures currently being discussed by KMT lawmakers that they worry could force them to relocate from their homes.

'Like ice melting': Journalists warn press freedom is in decline across Asia China's jailing of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan highlights a deeper press freedom crisis across Asia.

My latest for @npr.org : Doxxing, death threats, and detentions are becoming routine threats for journalists across Asia. Here's a look at how reporters from the Philippines, Indonesia and other places adjust to the new realities - and even start to fight back. www.npr.org/2025/09/30/n...

Nepal's prime minister KP Sharma Oli is now the second South Asian leader to be driven out of office by youth-led protests in just over a year. He joins neighboring Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country on a helicopter amid mass protests last August.

KMT lawmakers claim victory as recall vote count continues - Focus Taiwan Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers have declared they survived recall votes to remove them from office Saturday, although official results are still pending as the vote counting continues.

Taiwan’s opposition KMT scored big today: early results show that all remaining 7 lawmakers who faced recall challenges have kept their seats. President Lai Ching-te faces an uphill battle on pledges to raise defense spending to 3.32% of GDP next year and 5% by 2030.
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...

U.S. and China extend tariff truce deadline for another 3 months President Trump's executive order extends a reprieve from the threat of rising tariffs between the world's two largest economies.

My latest for @npr.org : With hours left on the clock, the US and China extended a truce that limits tariffs between the world's two largest economies by a further 90 days. Analysts expect further talks and a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Xi later this year. www.npr.org/2025/08/12/n...

Taiwan warns of toxic wild mushrooms | Taiwan News | Aug. 6, 2025 09:53 Food and Drug Administration says 33 poisoned over 5 years as rain spurs new mushroom growth | Aug. 6, 2025 09:53

Heavy rains that caused dozens of injuries, power outages and 5 deaths in southern Taiwan have led to an unexpected result: a surge of wild mushrooms. Authorities are removing them from roadsides and warning that toxic mushrooms are hard to tell apart from edible ones. taiwannews.com.tw/news/6172548

Glad you appreciated it Brian!

Deadline nears for Taiwan's Chinese immigrants to prove no China household registration Amid a wave of national security measures, immigrants from China must prove they've given up their household registration in China by June 30. Many are Chinese women married to men from Taiwan.

My latest for @npr.org : Today is the deadline for thousands of Chinese immigrants in Taiwan to prove they gave up household registration in China, or potentially face deportation. Many immigrants feel they've become victims of worsening cross-strait tensions.
www.npr.org/2025/06/29/g...

Super interesting, thanks for sharing. I've seen a couple of examples of these sorts of names while traveling around Indigenous communities but hadn't properly known the context til now

Glad you appreciated the piece Michael

Glad you appreciated it Mark

And indeed re: a university literally named after the "Great Han" becoming such a hub for Indigenous students, I feel Taiwan is full of these kinds of contradictions