Rephonic
Artwork for Strait Forward
Taiwan
China
United States
Semiconductors
Democracy
Geopolitics
Technology
National Security
2045 (board Game)
Cybersecurity
TSMC
Kuomintang
Digital Resilience
Mizo Games
Artificial Intelligence
Asymmetric Warfare
Drones
Cognitive Warfare
Foxconn
Democratic Progressive Party

Strait Forward is a podcast series from the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), where Channing Lee takes a deep-dive into Taiwan, the island at the forefront of technological innovation and the global fight for democracy. Hear Taiwanese experts discuss geopolitics, technology, and culture.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes43Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentTechnology

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Artwork for Strait Forward

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Strait Forward, host Channing Lee goes to the Taiwan Expo 2026 in Dallas, where more than 150 Taiwanese companies are showcasing Taiwan’s latest innovations in artificial intelligence, autonomous drones, robotics, semiconductor man... more

YouTube

In this crossover episode with our “Chipping In” event series, host Channing Lee takes the stage with Taiwan's Minister of Digital Affairs, Lin Yi-jing (林宜敬), one year into his tenure at the Ministry of Digital Affairs (moda). A former IBM researcher... more

YouTube

In this episode of Strait Forward, Channing Lee tours Foxconn's Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin campus with Robert Schlaeger, Head of U.S. Region Public & Government Affairs at Foxconn, to unpack how the Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant built one ... more

YouTube

Building advanced semiconductor foundries — and serving as the world’s trusted semiconductor supply chain capital — requires far more than purchasing multi-million-dollar lithography equipment. It also requires a fundamental alignment between a compa... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

James Huang
Chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council.
Taiwan External Trade Development Council
Episode: Why Taiwan’s Tech Firms are Betting on Texas
Peter Wang
Representative of MICROIP, an AI systems and software company.
MICROIP
Episode: Why Taiwan’s Tech Firms are Betting on Texas
Jacob Liao
Representative of Gye Tay Machinery Works, which makes motor-production automation equipment.
Gye Tay Machinery Works
Episode: Why Taiwan’s Tech Firms are Betting on Texas
Iván Romo
General Manager of SMarTsol Technologies and North American distributor for Techman Robot.
SMarTsol Technologies
Episode: Why Taiwan’s Tech Firms are Betting on Texas
Lin Yi-jing
Minister of Digital Affairs, Taiwan
Ministry of Digital Affairs, Taiwan
Episode: Inside Taiwan’s First Sovereign AI Benchmark
Robert Schlaeger
Head of North America, US and Public and Government Affairs
Foxconn (Hong Hai Technology Group)
Episode: Made in Wisconsin: Inside Foxconn's American AI Manufacturing Boom
Konrad Young
Former Research and Development Director at TSMC
TSMC
Episode: Why Taiwan Didn’t Steal America’s Chip Industry (Pt. 3: Industry & Culture)
Stephen Su
Senior Vice President, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)
ITRI
Episode: Why Taiwan Didn’t Steal America’s Chip Industry (Pt. 2: Institutional Ecosystem)
Roy Lee
Former deputy minister, Taiwan's former envoy to Europe; researcher at CIR
Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER)
Episode: Why Taiwan Didn’t Steal America’s Chip Industry (Pt. 1: Geoeconomic History)

Host

Channing Lee
Host of Strait Forward

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 22 ratings
  • Insightful and Timely

    Two wonderful cohosts who’ve clearly put a lot of time towards inviting top tier guests and asking insightful questions

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NatsecGuy
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Cohosts ask insightful questions and book top-tier guests
The show blends culture, tech, and security in a way that appeals to strategic-leaning listeners
Content pairs geopolitical context with practical, real-world expertise
Guests routinely bring policy and industry depth that informs decision-making for sponsors and guests alike

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#183
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#90
Hong Kong/Government
Apple Podcasts
#102
Taiwan/Government
Apple Podcasts
#124
Israel/Government
Apple Podcasts
#153
New Zealand/Government
Apple Podcasts
#155
India/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Taiwan’s Tech Firms are Betting on Texas
Q: Can you explain what happened?
Liao says GMW's sales to China dropped after the pandemic as the market closed and Chinese firms built their own machinery; he says some studied GMW's equipment and improved on the technology.
Why Taiwan’s Tech Firms are Betting on Texas
Q: Can you describe a specific example of Taitra helping not just the big TSMC companies, but the smaller suppliers be able to expand here in the US?
Huang says TAITRA helps small and medium-sized Taiwanese enterprises connect with partners, and also promotes areas such as smart healthcare and biotechnology.
Inside Taiwan’s First Sovereign AI Benchmark
Q: How has the conversation around AI sovereignty developed in Taiwan, and how has the ministry approached it?
Sovereign AI in Taiwan means ensuring AI runs in democratic jurisdictions under our control and benchmarking models to reflect Taiwanese values through a formal evaluation center, with weekly updates and rankings that highlight the leading global models.
Why Taiwan Didn’t Steal America’s Chip Industry (Pt. 2: Institutional Ecosystem)
Q: What is the long-term impact of ITRI on the global semiconductor ecosystem?
ITRI helped establish a global, collaborative ecosystem where Taiwan and the US (along with other countries) contribute to design, manufacturing, and supply chains, while continuing to support future trends through partnerships with universities and industry players.
Why Taiwan Didn’t Steal America’s Chip Industry (Pt. 2: Institutional Ecosystem)
Q: What is ITRI and what do they do?
ITRI was founded in 1973 to help industry commercialize innovative technology. It operates with government support and private funding, focusing on developing and transferring technologies rather than selling directly to consumers, and it serves as a think tank and incubator for new technologies.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Strait Forward

What is Strait Forward about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Strait Forward frequently explores Taiwan's pivotal role in global tech and geopolitics, pairing in-depth interviews with industry insiders, policymakers, and thought leaders. Episodes span semiconductor ecosystems, U.S.–Taiwan collaboration, AI-enabled manufacturing, and Taiwan's cultural narrative, often weaving together technology strategy with regional security and democracy. Notable strengths include access to unique guests with hands-on experience in Taiwan's tech supply chains, government strategy, and cross-border partnerships, plus a willingness to tackle complex topics like gray-zone deterrence, ecosystem development, and subnational diplomacy. For potential listeners, the show offers a dense,policy-forward lens on how Taiwan's in... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Strait Forward?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Strait Forward:

1. China Insider
2. The Asia Chessboard
3. The Foreign Affairs Interview
4. Pekingology
5. ChinaTalk

How many episodes of Strait Forward are there?

Strait Forward launched 2 years ago and published 43 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Strait Forward?

Recent guests on Strait Forward include:

1. James Huang
2. Peter Wang
3. Jacob Liao
4. Iván Romo
5. Lin Yi-jing
6. Robert Schlaeger
7. Konrad Young
8. Stephen Su

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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