How will Taiwan shape Asia’s future? With Chris Horton

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 26 July 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The issue of Taiwan is a constant background hum in today’s news cycle. Perched precariously on the fault-lines of global power, the fate of this vibrant democracy and tech colossus will shape Asia’s future – either containing or facilitating China’s expansionist goals. In today’s episode we’re joined by top foreign correspondent Chris Horton. Horton has spent over a decade of living and reporting in Taiwan, and has interviewed everyday citizens, presidents and other key figures for his new book Ghost Nation, a panoramic overview of the country which weaves together its complex past and perilous present. Chris is joined by host Adam McCauley to discuss how Taiwan became a tech powerhouse, why its fate matters to the world, and what its story reveals about the future of democracy in Asia. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Intelligence Squared, where great minds meet. I'm producer Mia Serenti.
0:06.0	The issue of Taiwan is a constant background hum in today's news cycle. Perched precariously on the
0:11.3	fault lines of global power, the fate of this vibrant democracy and tech colossus will shape
0:15.7	Asia's future, whether containing or facilitating, China's expansionist goals.
0:25.6	But what do we really know about this small country, its industry and its people?
0:30.1	On today's episode, we're joined by top foreign correspondent Chris Horton.
0:34.0	Horton has spent over a decade living and reporting in Taiwan and has interviewed everyday citizens, presidents and other key figures for his new book,
0:38.6	Ghost Nation, a panoramic overview of the country which weaves together its complex past and perilous
0:43.8	present. Chris is joined by host Adam McCauley to discuss how Taiwan became a tech powerhouse,
0:49.8	why its fate matters to the world and what its story reveals about the future of democracy in Asia.
0:55.4	Let's join Adam now with more.
0:58.0	Welcome to Intelligence Squared. I'm Adam McCauley.
1:01.7	Nestled in the blue waters of the Pacific, approximately 87 nautical miles from the coast of mainland
1:06.7	China, sits the island of Taiwan. Home to 23 million people and a history stretching
1:12.0	back thousands of years, this little island plays an outsized role in the story of international
1:17.0	affairs, most specifically in an emerging narrative about the inevitable clash between east and
1:22.5	west for control over, among other things, our collective future. Yet, while Taiwan features prominently
1:29.5	in our breathless news cycle, trapped between the U.S. and China and a geopolitical tug of war,
1:35.6	common knowledge and understanding of the island and its history remains limited. For a place so
1:40.9	consequential, and with the stakes so high, we might wish to spend a little time communing with its current residents,
1:47.4	not to mention its long-lost ghosts.
1:49.6	To help us navigate this new and rich terrain, I'm joined by Chris Horton,
	...

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