Michael Turton
@michaelturton.bsky.social
Boardgamer (now: Vantage). Cyclist. Taipei Times feature writer every Mon & Thurs with Notes from Central Taiwan.
See Christine Lu's starter pack for Taiwan Studies: https://bsky.app/starter-pack-short/EM1VG8y
See Christine Lu's starter pack for Taiwan Studies: https://bsky.app/starter-pack-short/EM1VG8y
Well known long-time member of Taipei foreign community posts on possible contact by influence op
www.facebook.com/avdtaipei/po...
www.facebook.com/avdtaipei/po...
Facebook
www.facebook.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Well known long-time member of Taipei foreign community posts on possible contact by influence op
www.facebook.com/avdtaipei/po...
www.facebook.com/avdtaipei/po...
IN Taichung there were major changes -- vehicles stopping for pedestrians even on busy four-lanes, and the mayor started changing some of the sidewalks at street corners to increase pedestrian safety
Taiwan's traffic and pedestrian safety hasn't changed much, except maybe in the posh parts of Taipei.
youtu.be/ZdDYVjDwgwA?...
youtu.be/ZdDYVjDwgwA?...
Are Taipei's Roads Still a "Living Hell"?
YouTube video by Not Just Bikes
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
IN Taichung there were major changes -- vehicles stopping for pedestrians even on busy four-lanes, and the mayor started changing some of the sidewalks at street corners to increase pedestrian safety
J Caverly: So What? Reassessing the Military Implications of Chinese Control of Taiwan (summer 2025)
muse.jhu.edu/pub/15/artic...
muse.jhu.edu/pub/15/artic...
muse.jhu.edu
November 11, 2025 at 11:45 AM
J Caverly: So What? Reassessing the Military Implications of Chinese Control of Taiwan (summer 2025)
muse.jhu.edu/pub/15/artic...
muse.jhu.edu/pub/15/artic...
Demographic, other issues facing military
www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6239817
www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6239817
Taiwan’s arsenal of paradox | Taiwan News | Nov. 9, 2025 13:56
Big-ticket hardware rises while trained people exit and training lags | Nov. 9, 2025 13:56
www.taiwannews.com.tw
November 11, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Demographic, other issues facing military
www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6239817
www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6239817
Reposted by Michael Turton
Europe just crossed a massive red line for China.”
→ instantly frames Taiwan’s diplomatic outreach as a dangerous transgression, not an act of normal diplomacy.
→ instantly frames Taiwan’s diplomatic outreach as a dangerous transgression, not an act of normal diplomacy.
November 11, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Europe just crossed a massive red line for China.”
→ instantly frames Taiwan’s diplomatic outreach as a dangerous transgression, not an act of normal diplomacy.
→ instantly frames Taiwan’s diplomatic outreach as a dangerous transgression, not an act of normal diplomacy.
Reposted by Michael Turton
How did AI‑fueled content influence the KMT chairmanship race? Doublethink Lab’s Jerry Wu shared his views with ChinaTalk on how pro-Cheng posts spread through accounts showing suspicious or inauthentic behavior before the elections.
Full story below 👇
dtl.tw/dvhkc6
Full story below 👇
dtl.tw/dvhkc6
AI Slopaganda in the KMT Election
Would the generalAIssimo be proud?
dtl.tw
November 11, 2025 at 8:47 AM
How did AI‑fueled content influence the KMT chairmanship race? Doublethink Lab’s Jerry Wu shared his views with ChinaTalk on how pro-Cheng posts spread through accounts showing suspicious or inauthentic behavior before the elections.
Full story below 👇
dtl.tw/dvhkc6
Full story below 👇
dtl.tw/dvhkc6
Reposted by Michael Turton
frame Europe’s engagement with Taiwan as irrational, dangerous, and self-destructive,
while implicitly reinforcing China’s “red line” veto power over democratic diplomacy.
while implicitly reinforcing China’s “red line” veto power over democratic diplomacy.
Europe just crossed a massive red line for China.”
→ instantly frames Taiwan’s diplomatic outreach as a dangerous transgression, not an act of normal diplomacy.
→ instantly frames Taiwan’s diplomatic outreach as a dangerous transgression, not an act of normal diplomacy.
November 11, 2025 at 8:34 AM
frame Europe’s engagement with Taiwan as irrational, dangerous, and self-destructive,
while implicitly reinforcing China’s “red line” veto power over democratic diplomacy.
while implicitly reinforcing China’s “red line” veto power over democratic diplomacy.
Reposted by Michael Turton
In view of China's skyscraper-studded coastline, Taiwanese coastguard captain Huang Heng-chun steers his patrol boat around islands controlled by Taipei.
Huang is on alert for China Coast Guard ships, which have been entering sensitive waters around Kinmen with greater frequency
u.afp.com/Snqx
Huang is on alert for China Coast Guard ships, which have been entering sensitive waters around Kinmen with greater frequency
u.afp.com/Snqx
November 11, 2025 at 8:59 AM
In view of China's skyscraper-studded coastline, Taiwanese coastguard captain Huang Heng-chun steers his patrol boat around islands controlled by Taipei.
Huang is on alert for China Coast Guard ships, which have been entering sensitive waters around Kinmen with greater frequency
u.afp.com/Snqx
Huang is on alert for China Coast Guard ships, which have been entering sensitive waters around Kinmen with greater frequency
u.afp.com/Snqx
Reposted by Michael Turton
In Berlin, Tsai Ing-wen urges democratic unity against authoritarian threats – Focus Taiwan
In Europe, Tsai urges democratic unity against authoritarian threats - Focus Taiwan
Former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said in Berlin on Monday that democracies should collaborate to counter authoritarianism, and she outlined the steps Taiwan has taken to build up resilience in the ...
focustaiwan.tw
November 11, 2025 at 6:44 AM
In Berlin, Tsai Ing-wen urges democratic unity against authoritarian threats – Focus Taiwan
Reposted by Michael Turton
Taiwan coast guard faces China’s might near frontline Kinmen Islands – AFP: ‘In late October, AFP journalists were given the rare opportunity to join Huang and his colleagues as they scanned the waters around Kinmen for Chinese ships.’
Taiwan coastguard faces China's might near frontline islands
With a clear view of China's skyscraper-studded coastline, Taiwanese coastguard captain Huang Heng-chun steers his patrol boat through choppy waters around a group of islands controlled by Taipei.The ...
www.yahoo.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Taiwan coast guard faces China’s might near frontline Kinmen Islands – AFP: ‘In late October, AFP journalists were given the rare opportunity to join Huang and his colleagues as they scanned the waters around Kinmen for Chinese ships.’
Reposted by Michael Turton
President Xi Jinping indicates that the relatively lacklustre expansion of China’s richest province Guangdong is acceptable – Bloomberg: ‘Xi’s remarks add to recent signals that Beijing will tolerate a slower growth rate of around 4%’
China’s Xi Tolerates Relatively Slow Growth in Richest Province
President Xi Jinping indicated that the relatively lackluster expansion of China’s richest province is acceptable, in the latest sign that senior leaders of the world’s second largest economy are tole...
www.bloomberg.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:33 AM
President Xi Jinping indicates that the relatively lacklustre expansion of China’s richest province Guangdong is acceptable – Bloomberg: ‘Xi’s remarks add to recent signals that Beijing will tolerate a slower growth rate of around 4%’
Reposted by Michael Turton
8 sorties of PLA aircraft and 3 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 8 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern ADIZ.
November 11, 2025 at 5:41 AM
8 sorties of PLA aircraft and 3 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 8 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern ADIZ.
Reposted by Michael Turton
A Hong Kong couple were sentenced to 13 and 17 months in prison for perverting the course of justice after they hid four protesters who were attempting to flee to Taiwan by boat
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...
Hong Kong couple who hid, aided 4 wanted protesters jailed for 13, 17 months
Ng Shuk-wai and Yu Hin-lam plead guilty to perverting the course of justice by hiding four fugitives ahead of their attempt to escape to Taiwan.
www.scmp.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:13 AM
A Hong Kong couple were sentenced to 13 and 17 months in prison for perverting the course of justice after they hid four protesters who were attempting to flee to Taiwan by boat
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...
Reposted by Michael Turton
American tankie influencer gets interrogated by actual Chinese state police while visiting Tiananmen Square sounds like a comedy sketch and yet it's real lmao
www.reddit.com/r/Livestream...
www.reddit.com/r/Livestream...
From the LivestreamFail community on Reddit: Chinese security police harassed Hasan Piker while he was live streaming in Tiananmen Square
Explore this post and more from the LivestreamFail community
www.reddit.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:25 AM
American tankie influencer gets interrogated by actual Chinese state police while visiting Tiananmen Square sounds like a comedy sketch and yet it's real lmao
www.reddit.com/r/Livestream...
www.reddit.com/r/Livestream...
Reposted by Michael Turton
Spending the day here in Tainan at the 臺灣文學翻譯暨出版國際論壇 / Taiwan Literature Translation and Publishing International Forum. A great talk from Renata Obadálková & Pavel Drábek reminding us "Literature is done by people, and people need to meet... Humans make books. It’s not contracts that make books."
November 11, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Spending the day here in Tainan at the 臺灣文學翻譯暨出版國際論壇 / Taiwan Literature Translation and Publishing International Forum. A great talk from Renata Obadálková & Pavel Drábek reminding us "Literature is done by people, and people need to meet... Humans make books. It’s not contracts that make books."
Reposted by Michael Turton
Taiwan didn't come up during the Trump-Xi summit. That's actually a really good sign for US-Taiwan relations, among others.
asia.nikkei.com/opinion/stra...
asia.nikkei.com/opinion/stra...
Strategic ambiguity on Taiwan, Trump-style
President's silence on Taiwan in Xi meeting is in keeping with calculated vagueness
asia.nikkei.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Taiwan didn't come up during the Trump-Xi summit. That's actually a really good sign for US-Taiwan relations, among others.
asia.nikkei.com/opinion/stra...
asia.nikkei.com/opinion/stra...
Reported by other chinese spouses
www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
Woman advocating forceful takeover of Taiwan reported - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Reported by other chinese spouses
www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
Reposted by Michael Turton
Sun Moon lake, Taiwan. Sunset.
November 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Sun Moon lake, Taiwan. Sunset.
Reposted by Michael Turton
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense is clarifying that the Republic of China is not the same country as the People's Republic of China after Sudanese internet users flooded a comments section on its Facebook page, accusing Taiwan of supporting the RSF, which uses Chinese equipment.
November 10, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense is clarifying that the Republic of China is not the same country as the People's Republic of China after Sudanese internet users flooded a comments section on its Facebook page, accusing Taiwan of supporting the RSF, which uses Chinese equipment.
Reposted by Michael Turton
The Taiwan Marine Corps recently conducted amphibious assault exercises involving the Amphibious Armor Battalion, the 66th Marine Brigade, Chung Ho-class tank landing ships, and landing crafts in Zuoying, southwestern Taiwan.
November 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The Taiwan Marine Corps recently conducted amphibious assault exercises involving the Amphibious Armor Battalion, the 66th Marine Brigade, Chung Ho-class tank landing ships, and landing crafts in Zuoying, southwestern Taiwan.
Reposted by Michael Turton
Snail Fossils Over 1 Million Years Old Show Prehistoric Snails Gave Birth to Live Young
A rare fossil from Taiwan has captured a 1-million-year-old snail giving birth—only the second known evidence of live-bearing in ancient snails.
A rare fossil from Taiwan has captured a 1-million-year-old snail giving birth—only the second known evidence of live-bearing in ancient snails.
November 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Snail Fossils Over 1 Million Years Old Show Prehistoric Snails Gave Birth to Live Young
A rare fossil from Taiwan has captured a 1-million-year-old snail giving birth—only the second known evidence of live-bearing in ancient snails.
A rare fossil from Taiwan has captured a 1-million-year-old snail giving birth—only the second known evidence of live-bearing in ancient snails.
Reposted by Michael Turton
Yea, sending the seventh fleet into the Taiwan street was really more about preventing Chiang from attacking the mainland
November 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Yea, sending the seventh fleet into the Taiwan street was really more about preventing Chiang from attacking the mainland
Reposted by Michael Turton
Typhoon Fung-Wong weakens into typhoon, heads to Taiwan
www.upi.com
Typhoon Fung-Wong weakens into typhoon, heads to Taiwan - UPI.com
twp.ai
November 10, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Typhoon Fung-Wong weakens into typhoon, heads to Taiwan
Reposted by Michael Turton
More than 200 Harvard affiliates packed into the Lowell House dining hall to play traditional Taiwanese street games, savor cultural cuisine, and enjoy live performances.
Uy B. Pham, Shalini N. Ramchune, and Mark C.Z. Snekvik report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Uy B. Pham, Shalini N. Ramchune, and Mark C.Z. Snekvik report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Students Enjoy Taiwanese Street Food, Games and Performances at Night Market Event | News | The Harvard Crimson
More than 200 Harvard students and affiliates packed into the Lowell House dining hall on Friday night to play traditional Taiwanese street games, savor cultural cuisine, and enjoy live musical and…
www.thecrimson.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
More than 200 Harvard affiliates packed into the Lowell House dining hall to play traditional Taiwanese street games, savor cultural cuisine, and enjoy live performances.
Uy B. Pham, Shalini N. Ramchune, and Mark C.Z. Snekvik report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Uy B. Pham, Shalini N. Ramchune, and Mark C.Z. Snekvik report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...