Rephonic
Artwork for Strait Forward
Taiwan
China
United States
Semiconductors
Democracy
Geopolitics
Technology
National Security
2045 (board Game)
Cybersecurity
Kuomintang
Digital Resilience
Mizo Games
Asymmetric Warfare
Cognitive Warfare
Drones
Democratic Progressive Party
Japan
Semiconductor Industry
Indo-Pacific

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 monthlyEpisodes35Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentTechnology

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Artwork for Strait Forward

Latest Episodes

As the United States and Taiwan deepen their semiconductor partnership, can they build a talent pipeline resilient enough to sustain it? Recorded live in Orlando at the 2026 U.S.-Taiwan Semiconductor Higher Education Networking Event, on the sideline... more

YouTube

Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs, Chia-Lin Yang, joins host Channing Lee live at the AI+ Expo for a conversation on Taiwan's ambitions to become an “AI island” grounded in democratic values. They discuss the mission of Taiwan's Ministry of... more

YouTube

Channing Lee hosts a live conversation at the 2026 AI+ Expo Bookstore with historian Eyck Freymann, a Hoover Fellow at Stanford University. Drawing from Freymann’s new book, Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China, the discussion delve... more

YouTube

At the 2026 AI+ Expo, host Channing Lee speaks with Doublethink Lab Founder and CEO Ttcat, Senior Analyst Jerry Yu, and Strategic Partnership Manager Dahyun Kim to expose the evolving tactics of PRC influence. From the alarming "GoLaxy Leak"—which re... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Jonas Parello-Plezner
Executive Director of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation
Alliance of Democracies Foundation
Episode: The U.S.-Taiwan Semiconductor Education Alliance
Eyck Freeman
Author of Defending Taiwan, historian with focus on China and Taiwan strategy
Author, Defending Taiwan
Episode: A Strategy for Defending Taiwan
Jerry Yu
Senior Analyst at Doublethink Lab
Doublethink Lab
Episode: Defending Against PRC Doublethink & Information Manipulation
Dahyun Kim
Strategic Partnership Manager at Doublethink Lab
Doublethink Lab
Episode: Defending Against PRC Doublethink & Information Manipulation
Paul Chang
Owner of Morganhope Tea Shoppe, Taipei
Morganhope Tea Shoppe
Episode: How to Brew Taiwanese Tea
Ken Moriyasu
Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute; former Foreign Correspondent at Nikkei Asia
Hudson Institute / Nikkei Asia
Episode: Japan's Stake in the Taiwan Strait
Chris Horton
Freelance journalist based in Taipei, author of Ghost Nation
Independent journalist / author
Episode: A Ghost Nation’s Struggle for Survival
Andrea Yang
Deputy Representative from Tecro
Tecro
Episode: Why Taiwan Matters to Every U.S. City & State (Subnational Diplomacy Explained)
Clarissa Wei
Food journalist and author of Made in Taiwan
Food journalism / Made in Taiwan
Episode: How to Cook Taiwanese Cuisine

Hosts

Channing Lee
Host focused on geopolitics, technology, and culture with a background in public policy analysis.
Libby Lange
Co-host and content contributor with focus on Taiwan policy, culture, and media narratives.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 15 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality analysis with accessible storytelling.
Covers a broad spectrum from geopolitics to culture, keeping topics engaging.
Cohosts invite top-tier guests and ask insightful questions.
Guests bring practical, real-world relevance to policy and tech.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#230
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#24
Taiwan/Government
Apple Podcasts
#64
New Zealand/Government
Apple Podcasts
#96
Hong Kong/Government
Apple Podcasts
#116
South Korea/Government
Apple Podcasts
#138
Singapore/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Taiwan is Building an AI Island
Q: What are the challenges in government AI adoption and data sharing, and how do you plan to overcome them?
The main challenges are legacy IT systems and data silos; Moda aims to create regulations that enable proper data sharing without fear of liability, smooth cross-agency collaboration, and faster AI adoption in public services.
How Taiwan is Building an AI Island
Q: How is Moda addressing cyber resilience and international collaboration in cybersecurity?
Taiwan is a frequent target of cyber threats, so Moda emphasizes a whole-society approach to cybersecurity, building joint defense with public and private sectors, enhancing critical infrastructure protection, and pursuing international cooperation with partners like the United States and Estonia.
How Taiwan is Building an AI Island
Q: Can you explain the AI basic law and how risk management frames its implementation across ministries?
The AI basic law establishes a risk management framework to ensure AI is used safely and responsibly, with ministries conducting their own risk assessments and regulatory updates to address sector-specific needs.
How Taiwan is Building an AI Island
Q: What does it mean for Taiwan to be an AI island, and how are you balancing hardware strength with software development?
Taiwan aims to turn its hardware strengths into a robust software ecosystem by executing the Ten AI Initiative with three pillars: smart AI applications, technology-driven AI innovation, and a solid digital infrastructure with AI governance and funding for startups.
How Taiwan is Building an AI Island
Q: But before we get into all that, I would love for you to first tell us about Moda, the Ministry of Digital Affairs. What is Moda's mission and mandate?
Moda was established to respond to the rapid progress of digital technologies by combining communications, digital governance, cybersecurity, and digital industry development to speed up coordinated action and growth of Taiwan's digital economy.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Strait Forward

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

This program centers on Taiwan's geopolitical, technological, and cultural crossroads, often featuring policy-heavy discussions with experts, researchers, and practitioners. Episodes frequently explore deterrence theory, information manipulation, energy security, and Taiwan's role in global tech supply chains, as well as cultural topics like tea and cuisine to illustrate Taiwan's identity. A notable pattern is mixing rigorous policy analysis with accessible storytelling and live demonstrations, such as tasting tea or interactive board-game discussions, which broadens appeal beyond strictly academic audiences. The show often brings in researchers, policymakers, journalists, and industry guests who offer practical insights into resilience, de... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Strait Forward?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Strait Forward:

1. The Asia Chessboard
2. ChinaPower
3. War on the Rocks
4. ChinaTalk
5. Sinica Podcast

How many episodes of Strait Forward are there?

Strait Forward launched a year ago and published 35 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. Jonas Parello-Plezner
2. Eyck Freeman
3. Jerry Yu
4. Dahyun Kim
5. Paul Chang
6. Ken Moriyasu
7. Chris Horton
8. Andrea Yang

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