🎙️As China increases military pressure and Trump 47 reshapes U.S. foreign policy, Taiwan’s future is more uncertain than ever.
Dr. John Bruni speaks with Dr. Alice Yang from Taipei’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research about Taiwan’s fight for democracy, U.S. ambiguity, and what regional conflict could mean for the world.
🎧 Available now on Spotify, iTunes & the Auscast Network.

Show Notes:

Connect with Alice:

At INDSR - indsr2018@indsr.org.tw 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/INDSRTW

X - @INDSRTW

YouTube - https://youtube.com/@indsr8906?si=diU9m_YM3w2438vp 

Taiwanese political parties:

🇹🇼 1. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
Position on China:
Pro-status quo with an emphasis on sovereignty
While it doesn’t formally push for de jure independence, it views Taiwan as already independent under the name “Republic of China (Taiwan)”
Strongly resists unification with China

✅ Supports a Taiwanese identity distinct from China
🚫 Opposes “One China” or any future unification with the PRC

🇹🇼 2. Kuomintang (KMT)
Position on China:

Supports eventual peaceful unification under the right conditions but rejects the use of force
Favors closer economic and cultural ties with China
Supports the "1992 Consensus" (One China, but each side has its own interpretation)

⚖️ Seeks peace and dialogue with Beijing
🧩 Ambiguous on independence vs. unification, but tilts toward eventual integration if democratic and safe

🇹🇼 3. Taiwan People’s Party (TPP)
Position on China:
Promotes status quo
Calls for pragmatic engagement with both the U.S. and China
Avoids strong ideological stances on unification vs. independence

🧭 Middle-of-the-road approach: avoid provoking China while protecting Taiwan’s democracy

🇹🇼 4. New Power Party (NPP)
Position on China:
Advocates for formal independence
Strongly opposes unification or the “1992 Consensus”

🔥 More hardline than the DPP on Taiwanese independence

🇹🇼 5. People First Party (PFP) (Now marginal)
Position on China:
Pro-unification under peaceful, negotiated terms
Supports “One China” framework

📉 Formerly significant, now politically marginal

 

Top Publications:

Publications: Annual Assessment Reports at INDSR: These reports cover various aspects of Taiwan's defence strategy, including military technology trends and China's military developments (INDSR). 

Weaponized Interdependence: China’s Economic Statecraft and Social Penetration against Taiwan: This paper discusses how China uses economic means to influence and penetrate Taiwanese society, published in the journal Orbis (TAEF). 

Building a Disaster Resilient Community in Taiwan: Co-authored with Judy H.S. Wu, this research analyses the social capital in disaster preparedness in Taiwan, published in Politics and Governance(TAEF). 

Enabling Human Values in Foreign Policy: This paper explores the transformation of Taiwan's New Southbound Policy, emphasizing the human values driving Taiwan's foreign policy, published in the Journal of Human Values (TAEF).

🎙️As China increases military pressure and Trump 47 reshapes U.S. foreign policy, Taiwan&rsquo;s future is more uncertain than ever. Dr. John Bruni speaks with Dr. Alice Yang from Taipei&rsquo;s Institute for National Defense and Security Research about Taiwan&rsquo;s fight for democracy, U.S. ambiguity, and what regional conflict could mean for the world. 🎧 Available now on Spotify, iTunes &amp; the Auscast Network.
Show Notes:
Connect with Alice:
At INDSR -&nbsp;<a href="mailto:indsr2018@indsr.org.tw">indsr2018@indsr.org.tw</a>&nbsp;
Facebook -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/INDSRTW">https://www.facebook.com/INDSRTW</a>
X -&nbsp;@INDSRTW
YouTube -&nbsp;<a href="https://youtube.com/@indsr8906?si=diU9m_YM3w2438vp">https://youtube.com/@indsr8906?si=diU9m_YM3w2438vp</a>&nbsp;
Taiwanese political parties:
🇹🇼&nbsp;1. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
<ul>
<li>Position on China:</li>
<ul>
<li>Pro-status quo with an emphasis on sovereignty</li>
<li>While it doesn&rsquo;t formally push for&nbsp;de jure&nbsp;independence, it views Taiwan as&nbsp;already independent&nbsp;under the name &ldquo;Republic of China (Taiwan)&rdquo;</li>
<li>Strongly resists unification with China</li>
</ul>
</ul>
✅&nbsp;Supports a Taiwanese identity distinct from China 🚫&nbsp;Opposes &ldquo;One China&rdquo; or any future unification with the PRC
🇹🇼&nbsp;2. Kuomintang (KMT)
<ul>
<li>Position on China:</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Supports&nbsp;eventual peaceful unification&nbsp;under the right conditions but rejects the use of force</li>
<li>Favors&nbsp;closer economic and cultural ties&nbsp;with China</li>
<li>Supports the "1992 Consensus" (One China, but each side has its own interpretation)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
⚖️&nbsp;Seeks peace and dialogue with Beijing 🧩&nbsp;Ambiguous on independence vs. unification, but tilts toward eventual integration if democratic and safe
🇹🇼&nbsp;3. Taiwan People&rsquo;s Party (TPP)
<ul>
<li>Position on China:</li>
<ul>
<li>Promotes&nbsp;status quo</li>
<li>Calls for pragmatic engagement with both the U.S. and China</li>
<li>Avoids strong ideological stances on unification vs. independence</li>
</ul>
</ul>
🧭&nbsp;Middle-of-the-road approach: avoid provoking China while protecting Taiwan&rsquo;s democracy
🇹🇼&nbsp;4. New Power Party (NPP)
<ul>
<li>Position on China:</li>
<ul>
<li>Advocates for&nbsp;formal independence</li>
<li>Strongly opposes unification or the &ldquo;1992 Consensus&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</ul>
🔥&nbsp;More hardline than the DPP on Taiwanese independence
🇹🇼&nbsp;5. People First Party (PFP)&nbsp;(Now marginal)
<ul>
<li>Position on China:</li>
<ul>
<li>Pro-unification under peaceful, negotiated terms</li>
<li>Supports &ldquo;One China&rdquo; framework</li>
</ul>
</ul>
📉&nbsp;Formerly significant, now politically marginal
&nbsp;
Top Publications:
Publications: Annual Assessment Reports at INDSR: These reports cover various aspects of Taiwan's defence strategy, including military technology trends and China's military developments (INDSR).&nbsp;
Weaponized Interdependence: China&rsquo;s Economic Statecraft and Social Penetration against Taiwan: This paper discusses how China uses economic means to influence and penetrate Taiwanese society, published in the journal Orbis (TAEF).&nbsp;
Building a Disaster Resilient Community in Taiwan: Co-authored with Judy H.S. Wu, this research analyses the social capital in disaster preparedness in Taiwan, published in Politics and Governance(TAEF).&nbsp;
Enabling Human Values in Foreign Policy: This paper explores the transformation of Taiwan's New Southbound Policy, emphasizing the human values driving Taiwan's foreign policy, published in the Journal of Human Values (TAEF).

The Focus is the flagship current affairs podcast of SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical  think tank.

Hosted by Dr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focus brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for Jane’s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.

Produced by Neil Smart, The Focus cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

The Focus&nbsp;is the flagship current affairs podcast of&nbsp;SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical &nbsp;think tank.
Hosted by&nbsp;Dr. John Bruni&mdash;a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media&mdash;The Focus&nbsp;brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the&nbsp;Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for&nbsp;Jane&rsquo;s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.
Produced by&nbsp;Neil Smart,&nbsp;The Focus&nbsp;cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

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