Taiwan News Junkie

Much of northern Taiwan has the day off as Typhoon Bavi approaches. At TaiwanPlus, though, it's all hands on deck. In the Friday, July 10 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan have the latest.  Plus:  Assignment Desk: Yvonne Yang explains how TaiwanPlus plans its typhoon coverage—from deciding where to send reporters to keeping crews safe in the field.   Reporter's Notebook: Reporte...

A new month has arrived with a long list of changes. July 1 saw new laws take effect from a new ethnic unity law in China to workplace anti-bullying regulations in Taiwan. In the Friday, July 3 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan unpack the biggest developments and why they're worth paying attention to. Plus:  Taiwan's metro system just got a little more convenient, with contactle...

With RIMPAC underway in Hawaii and combat readiness drills unfolding across Taiwan, the TaiwanPlus defense desk is keeping a close watch. In the Friday, June 26 edition of Taiwan News Junkie, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan discuss what to expect from our coverage in the days ahead. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

There’s nothing like a holiday to share some good news: Taiwan News Junkie has been renewed for another season! In the June 19 episode, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan celebrate their return with a look at recent reporting trips to the Philippines, Switzerland, Palau and the United States. Plus: Assignment Desk: Covering a national holiday with Laurel Stewart.  Reporter’s Notebook: Tech Reporter A...

The big story of the week in Taiwan was the sentencing of former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je on corruption and embezzlement charges. In the Friday, March 17 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan bring you the latest. Plus: Assignment Desk: Could Taiwan return to nuclear power? Assignment Editor Laurel Stewart has more on our coverage.  Reporter’s Notebook: A look at Taiwan's energy secur...

Nvidia’s GTC lit up San Jose this week and Taiwan was there – and so was TaiwanPlus! In the Friday, March 20 edition of the show, a closer look at our coverage and why this conference matters for the future of AI and Taiwan’s tech companies. Plus: Assignment editor Jeremy Olivier takes us through this week’s action, including coverage of the Nvidia GTC in San Jose and a new US intelligence report...

Energy markets are rattled again as conflict in the Middle East raises new questions about global supply and prices. In the Friday, March 13 edition of the show, a look at what the latest tensions could mean for energy security. Plus: Assignment editor Laurel Stewart takes us through the news of the week, including a fresh US trade probe.  Reporter’s Notebook: A look at Taiwan's defense calculus i...

In the Friday, March 6 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan are back after three weeks away and raring to dive into what’s been shaking in the TaiwanPlus newsroom in the interim. Plus: Covering a baseball tournament without footage – Chia Chang talks about how we sent one reporter to Japan and another to watch parties in Taiwan.  Reporter’s Notebook: A look at the latest Zoom In Zo...

Taiwan-related headlines surged on the final day before the Lunar New Year holidays, capped by the signing of a sweeping trade deal with the United States. In the Friday, Feb. 13 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan kick off the holiday break with a look at the major developments — and what to watch as Taiwan rings in the Year of the Horse. Plus: Assignment Desk: Chia Chang explain...

How often do the presidents of China and the US talk on the phone and how much do these conversations matter? In the Friday, February 6 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan discuss the impact of the latest call between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping as it relates to Taiwan. Plus: Taiwan’s first lawmaker with PRC citizenship takes office. Jeremy Olivier has the details on the Assignmen...

It was a week that began with a historic climb and concluded with a display of force. In the Friday, January 30 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan unpack a week where power, pressure and spectacle all converged in Taiwan. Plus: The latest on Taiwan’s spring military drills, with Assignment Editor Chia Chang.  Reporter’s Notebook: Looking back on Alex Honnold’s free solo climb of ...

Trade policy meets chip politics — with culture in the mix. In the Friday, Jan. 23 edition of Taiwan News Junkie, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan track the ripple effects of a US tariff deal, examine Taiwan’s tech debate and explore how tattoos are reshaping local identity. Assignment editor Laurel Stewart traces a line from a US tariff deal to high-profile visits from Arizona politicians.  A look...

Finally. Taiwan has secured a trade deal with the United States to lower tariffs on its goods from 20% to 15%. In the Monday, Jan. 16 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan have the latest on the monthslong negotiation. Plus: Assignment editor Stacy Hsu takes a look back on an eventful week that began with warnings of a Chinese disinformation campaign and ended with a trade deal.  A ...

It was a dramatic way to start the first week of 2026: the United States’ capture of Venezuela’s president. Then the US withdrew from dozens of international organizations. And the week closed with new comments from President Donald Trump to the New York Times, including about the possibility of China launching an attack on Taiwan. In today’s podcast, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan take a closer...

Hello 2026! In the Friday, January 2 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan look ahead to the coming year and how the TaiwanPlus newsroom plans to cover it. Plus: Assignment editor Chia Chang takes us through what are likely to be some of the major stories and themes of the year ahead, from Taiwan becoming a super-aged society to elections at home and a challenging diplomatic landsca...

It’s our final episode of the year and we’re packing in the big moments and the big questions. In the Monday, Dec. 29 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan pause to reflect on the year that was. Plus: How do you sum up a whole year in one video? Eric Tsai offers a behind-the-scenes look at TaiwanPlus’s Year-in-Review report.  Reporter’s Notebook: Parsing Taiwan's income inequality w...

Some years conclude with a celebratory feel. But in the Friday, Dec. 26 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan take a closer look at some of the challenges facing Taiwan on the cusp of the new year. Plus: Assignment editor Laurel Stewart has the latest on efforts to impeach Taiwan’s president.  Reporter’s Notebook: A look at Taiwan’s gelato world champions with reporter Sandy Chi.  T...

Taiwan is trying to understand two major stories from last week – a complicated piece involving the courts and a disturbing incident that left four dead. In the Monday, December 22 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan search for clarity. Plus: Assignment editor Laurel Stewart takes us through the day’s top stories, including the latest on an evolving constitutional crisis involving...

The day began with a move to impeach Taiwan’s president, and then in the afternoon it transitioned to a constitutional crisis. In the Friday, Dec. 19 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan get to the bottom of a memorable day of news. Plus: Constitutional Crisis – assignment editor Stacy Hsu walks us through this late-breaking story and how we’re covering it in the newsroom.  A look...

A landmark court ruling in Hong Kong. In the Monday, December 15 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan consider the long-awaited verdict in Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai’s national security trial and what on earth is going on with China’s new professional baseball league. Plus: Assignment editor Stacy Hsu takes us through the day’s top stories, including a landmark conviction in H...

Pax Silica and a turning point in gender equality. In the Friday, December 12 edition of the show, Charlie Storrar and Andrew Ryan look at a new US-led initiative that could shake up the global semiconductor industry and the legacy of a politician whose death brought about a wake-up call for Taiwan. Plus: Assignment editor Jeremy Olivier brings us the top stories of the day from the TaiwanPlus new...

More than 3 million people in Taiwan use the Chinese social media app Rednote, or Xiaohongshu. In the Friday, Dec. 5 edition of our show, we find out why the government is planning to ban it, and what the response has been. Plus:  On our radar: China has sent 10 Taiwanese people who had finished prison sentences back to Taiwan with little notice. Assignment Editor Chia Chang explains why Taipei is...

US President Donald Trump has signed a new bill that could improve ties with Taiwan. In the Wednesday, Dec. 3 edition of the show, Andrew Ryan and Laurel Stewart dive into the details. Plus: On our radar: Honduras’ elections, Taiwan’s stalled defense budget, and an award for former Digital Minister Audrey Tang in Sweden.  Reporter’s Notebook: Tiffany Wong tells us what’s at stake in Taiwan’s next...

It’s a busy first day of December in the TaiwanPlus newsroom and we’ve sent a reporter to the legislature for a live cross. In the Monday, Dec. 1 edition of the show, we’ll walk you through the story that warranted it. Plus: Assignment editor Chia Chang has the latest on the US-Taiwan trade negotiations.  Reporter’s Notebook: A look at TSMC’s alleged trade secret leak, with reporter Leslie Liao. ...

Prosecutors have raided the homes of a former TSMC executive in what they say could be a potential national security case. In the Friday, Nov. 28 edition of the show, we break down what the investigation means for Taiwan – and for the country’s most strategic technology. Plus: Assignment Desk: Chia Chang walks us through this weekend’s presidential election in Honduras, and why it matters for Taiw...