Tessera

The Taiwanese government gave everyone the day off for my birthday it has nothing to do with the giant typhoon heading for us this is what I asked for you’re all welcome PS. Please be safe!! 今天放假不是因為颱風，是因為我生日，跟那個快來的超大颱風完全無關，這是我要的禮物，不客氣！PS. 大家注意安全喔！

I'm happy to share my newest op-ed "Taiwan Believes Japan Will Help Defend Against China: Opinion polling shows that trust in Tokyo is surprisingly deep" with @poscwty1.bsky.social for @foreignpolicy.com! This is a gift link, so there is no paywall! 🧵 foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/07/c...

Taiwan Believes Japan Will Help Defend Against China

Opinion polling shows that trust in Tokyo is surprisingly deep.

foreignpolicy.com

I'm happy to share my newest op-ed "Taiwan Believes Japan Will Help Defend Against China: Opinion polling shows that trust in Tokyo is surprisingly deep" with @poscwty1.bsky.social for @foreignpolicy.com! This is a gift link, so there is no paywall! 🧵 foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/07/c...

Taiwan Believes Japan Will Help Defend Against China

Opinion polling shows that trust in Tokyo is surprisingly deep.

foreignpolicy.com

I am proud to share my latest peer-reviewed work with Nathan Kar Ming Chan and John Mok, "Desperate Acts of Democracy: Identity Threat, Autocratization and Voter Turnout in Hong Kong" out now at @chinaquarterly.bsky.social. This piece is very special to us, and likely our last survey study in HK🧵

Lev Nachman @lnachman32.bsky.social · last mo.

I am proud to share my latest peer-reviewed work with Nathan Kar Ming Chan and John Mok, "Desperate Acts of Democracy: Identity Threat, Autocratization and Voter Turnout in Hong Kong" out now at @chinaquarterly.bsky.social. This piece is very special to us, and likely our last survey study in HK🧵

I’m officially a permanent resident of Taiwan 🇹🇼 🥹🌸 I was awarded a Plum Blossom Card (梅花卡) designated for “those who have made a special contribution to Taiwan,” that beyond PR, will allow me to apply for dual citizenship after a number of years! 感謝台灣，我永遠的家🫶

I just think it’s cool they get to compete as Curaçao and not Dutch Willemstad. (This is a Chinese Taipei joke)

🧵Last month @poscwty1.bsky.social & I published a three-part series for @brookings.edu featuring the most current updates to Taiwanese public opinion available. In our first piece, we asked what Taiwan thought of Cheng Li-wun's trip to China & meeting with Xi Jinping:

How do Taiwanese feel about the Cheng-Xi meeting? | Brookings

Lev Nachman and Wei-Ting Yen present original survey data evaluating how Taiwanese voters saw the Cheng-Xi meeting.

brookings.edu

KMT Party Chair Cheng Li-wun casually dropping the anti-semitic trope of Jewish control of the United States government during her speech in the US: "如果猶太朋友可以對美國有怎麼關鍵的影響力, 我們華人的智慧,華人的努力,華人的平德, 絕對不輸給他們."

What do Taiwanese voters think of Trump? Does Taiwan see America as a trusworthy ally? Would voters support more defense spending? Have attitudes changed over time? All of this and more with @poscwty1.bsky.social in our final piece for @brookings.edu 3 part series:

How partisan is Taiwan’s security debate? | Brookings

Lev Nachman and Wei-Ting Yen delve into two of the most divisive issues in Taiwan: the special defense budget and perceptions of the U.S.

brookings.edu

What do Taiwanese voters think of Trump? Does Taiwan see America as a trusworthy ally? Would voters support more defense spending? Have attitudes changed over time? All of this and more with @poscwty1.bsky.social in our final piece for @brookings.edu 3 part series:

How partisan is Taiwan’s security debate? | Brookings

Lev Nachman and Wei-Ting Yen delve into two of the most divisive issues in Taiwan: the special defense budget and perceptions of the U.S.

brookings.edu

Taipei! I’m giving a book talk next Thursday at National Chengchi University! All are welcome to register and join!

I’m quoted in @nbcnews.com discussing the potential Trump-Lai phone call. www.nbcnews.com/world/taiwan...

Taiwan welcomes idea of Trump talking to its president, which would be a major break in protocol

President Donald Trump has said he may speak with the leader of the Beijing-claimed island in a move likely to antagonize China, though it is unclear whether a call will actually take place.

nbcnews.com

I’m quoted in Mandarin for @bbcchinese.nzcow.com on the problems Lai faces when he invokes the word “independence” in Mandarin and how we interpret his words in English. www.bbc.com/zhongwen/art...

從「定義台獨」到「有所收斂」的演說：賴清德如何論述台灣主權？ - BBC News 中文

特朗普訪華後的言論引發「台獨」爭議，賴清德近日多次回應相關議題。有專家對BBC中文分析，賴清德的主權論述本質上延續蔡英文路線，但其作風和直白的語言表述，往往給人具挑釁性的觀感，難以擺脫「麻煩製造者」形象。

bbc.com

Taiwan will both celebrate having Trump speak directly to President Lai, but lament that it’s because Trump sees Taiwan and Lai as a “problem.” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Trump Says Will Speak to Taiwan President as He Weighs Arms Sale

US President Donald Trump said he would speak to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te as his administration considers whether to move ahead with a $14 billion weapons sale to the self-ruling island — a po...

bloomberg.com

"92 Consensus, oppose Taiwanese independence" - the slogan Xi & Cheng see as foundational for Cross-Strait relations. But what do Taiwanese think of the phrase? What about support for "One Country, Two Systems?" @poscwty1.bsky.social and I's latest survey data for @brookings.edu:

Will Taiwanese accept Xi Jinping’s version of ‘One China’? | Brookings

An examination of how Taiwanese voters view and interpret “1992 Consensus, oppose Taiwanese independence” as the foundation for cross-Strait relations.

brookings.edu

Lev Nachman@lnachman32.bsky.social · 3mo ago

台灣民眾如何看待「九二共識、反對台獨」與「一國兩制」：

"92 Consensus, oppose Taiwanese independence" - the slogan Xi & Cheng see as foundational for Cross-Strait relations. But what do Taiwanese think of the phrase? What about support for "One Country, Two Systems?" @poscwty1.bsky.social and I's latest survey data for @brookings.edu:

"92 Consensus, oppose Taiwanese independence" - the slogan Xi & Cheng see as foundational for Cross-Strait relations. But what do Taiwanese think of the phrase? What about support for "One Country, Two Systems?" @poscwty1.bsky.social and I's latest survey data for @brookings.edu:

Will Taiwanese accept Xi Jinping’s version of ‘One China’? | Brookings

An examination of how Taiwanese voters view and interpret “1992 Consensus, oppose Taiwanese independence” as the foundation for cross-Strait relations.

brookings.edu

Lai released a response to Trump, emphasizing there is no "Taiwanese independence problem" because Taiwan is already (de facto) independent as the ROC. This has been the DPP stance since 1999, but Xi has seemingly convinced Trump that Lai is pursuing (de jure) independence.

Lev Nachman@lnachman32.bsky.social · 3mo ago

It would appear no, Taiwan is doubling down on its language on sovereign and independent, but interestingly the readout says "Republic of China" and not "Taiwan" as Lai usually says!

Considering Lai just days ago repeated his phrase "Taiwan is a sovereign independent country (台灣是主權獨立國家)" it is worth following if Trump's language here leads to a change in rhetoric from Lai, especially since Trump described him as "Someone who wants to go independent."

The problem is not whether Xi would negotiate over Taiwan (unlikely), it is that Trump is saying out loud that he perceives changing US Taiwan policy to be a bargaining chip. His clarity here is exactly what both politicians and civil society in Taiwan did not want to hear.

Everyone in Taiwan had sighed a breath of relief - until Trump opened his mouth on Air Force One 😅

Was just on @cnn.com talking about the Trump-Xi meeting my what it means for Taiwan. Here’s a clip!