The Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University Japan presents:
[Book Talk] Ghost Nation:
The Story of Taiwan and its Struggle for
Survival
Speaker:
Chris Horton
Journalist
Monday, September 22, 2025 from 18:30-20:00 (Tokyo)
Temple University Japan Campus | Room 408 or Online
URL: https://tuj.libcal.com/event/5846974
Overview
Ghost Nation is a sweeping look at Taiwan that uses the story of four centuries of colonial history to provide context for the country's complicated present. The book avoids both-sidesing Taiwan's political status, arguing that Taiwan is already an independent country -- a country that is vital to the survival of democracies as they grapple with the growing threat from authoritarianism. Ghost Nation draws upon extensive interviews with the people who have shaped modern Taiwan, including former presidents Lee Teng-hui and Tsai Ing-wen, as well as student leaders involved in the Wild Lily and Sunflower protest movements. Rather than approach Taiwan through the lens of China, or the US-China rivalry, Ghost Nation centers the story of the Taiwanese people to explain this dynamic and indispensable member of the global community.
Speaker
Chris Horton is a Taipei-based journalist who has reported on Taiwan for publications including The New York Times, Bloomberg News, Nikkei Asia, The Atlantic, and elsewhere since 2015. Prior to Taiwan, Horton was a reporter in Hong Kong for two years, during which he covered the Umbrella protests, and in China, where for a decade-plus he focused on the ramifications of China's economic rise.
Moderator
Andy Sharp is an opinion editor for Nikkei Asia
Robert Dujarric is the Co-director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies (ICAS) at Temple University, Japan Campus |Robert Dujarric | Temple University, Japan Campus|
Access:
Temple University, Japan Campus, Main Building
Room 408 (4th Floor)
1-14-29 Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
東京都世田谷区太子堂1-14-29
By train: Sangenjaya Station/三軒茶屋駅
Exit South A/南口A