Taiwan faces mounting challenges in 2026. Rising tensions with China, uncertainty in US policy, and the fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran have heightened concerns about energy security, particularly for the semiconductor industry, At the same time, political gridlock and growing party polarisation have hampered government action, including on defence, and deepened political
divisions.
In light of these events, at the 2026 Taiwan Update, the keynote address was given by Chun-Yi Lee (University of Nottingham) on the global semiconductor industry. Ching-hsin Yu (National Chengchi University) discussed Taiwanese attitudes toward key issues confronting Taiwan today. Mark Harrison (University of Tasmania) spoke on Taiwan Studies in Australia while Rosemary Haddon, formerly Massey University, explored Taiwan's modern identity through literature. In addition, we presented a restored version of The Sandwich Man (1983), which was regarded as foundational in Taiwan’s new wave cinema. The film was introduced by Andrew Pike OAM, the eminent film historian and director, who also formed Ronin Films, the film distribution company that has introduced many of the most important East Asian films to Australasia, beginning in the 1970s.
