Understanding Taiwan:
A history of tension that shaped Milwaukee’s ethnic Chinese diaspora
Special Coverage
MILWAUKEE CONNECTIONS. TAIWAN TENSIONS.
Understanding Taiwan: A history of tension that shaped Milwaukee’s ethnic Chinese diaspora. This 21-part explainer series examines the broader landscape defining Taiwan today. By exploring China’s escalating claims over the island, Japan’s historical influence, and how the diaspora is affected, Milwaukee Independent continues its commitment to reporting international narratives with local impact. mkeind.com/taiwanstories
This series was planned to include on-the-ground reporting from Taipei 臺北市, Hsinchu 新竹市, Kinmen 金門, and the Matsu Islands 馬祖列島 in Taiwan, along with personal interviews of individuals connected to Milwaukee. Regional instability following U.S. military action against Iran disrupted travel schedules and security access, and ultimately forced cancellation of the Taiwan segment of the assignment. The interviews central to this work never happened. Rather than abandon the project, the editorial outline was restructured around the field research, historical sources, and institutional materials already gathered. The result is an explainer series with 21 articles. While they are factually written, they are missing the human voices that were always meant to be at the center of this series. That loss is reflected in the work.
Lee Matz, and Acers_Foto, Chiang Ying-Ying, Dave Primov, Eqroy, Hao Tai, Hogp, Jack Hong, Jaclyne Ortiz, Jamesonwu1972, Jujumin Chu, Kit Leong, Leung Chopan, Michael Gordon, Pploylp, Rick Siu, Ricky Kuo, The Global Guy, Tom PJ, Vidpen, Watcharit Kong (via Shutterstock)
SERIES LINKS
• Personal Notes: A look at my journey across Japan 30 years ago and how it paved the way to Taiwan
• Three decades of field reporting across Asia to understand its history as a lived experience
• A historical look at Milwaukee’s early ethnic Chinese residents and their fragile community
UNDERSTANDING CROSS-STRAIT TENSIONS
• How ties to Taiwan formed through migration, displacement, education, and family networks
• An overview of how today’s cross-strait tensions took shape over the past century
• Why Taiwan’s geographic position influences regional security for Japan and the United States
CONTEXT AND COLONIALISM
• The Treaty of Shimonoseki and the political shift that reshaped Taiwan’s future
• Busan’s role as a transit corridor linking colonial Taiwan, Japan, and Korea
• China’s abandoned plan to invade Taiwan after entering the Korean War
JAPAN'S LONG SHADOW
• How Japan’s colonial history and modern partnerships continue to shape life in Taiwan
• How local markets, transit hubs, and new neighborhoods reflect Taipei’s urban planning
• The layers of Taipei’s urban fabric, including surviving Japanese-era architecture
PRESSURE, IDENTITY, AND DAILY LIFE
• How political pressure, military activity, and disinformation impact everyday life in Taiwan
• The “gray zone” pressure on Taiwan’s outer island chain from drones to maritime incursions
• How generational differences within Taiwan influence evolving concepts of identity
TECHNOLOGY, INDUSTRY, AND CULTURAL REACH
• Why Taiwan’s semiconductor industry matters to Milwaukee’s manufacturers and tech sectors
• What disruptions in Taiwan could mean for economic and educational ties to Milwaukee
• How Taiwan’s local culture of design, food, and media reaches communities abroad
IDENTITY, FAMILY, AND TAIWAN’S GLOBAL ROLE
• How Milwaukee's schools, universities, and industry reveal an overlooked connection to Taiwan
• What Taiwan's democracy costs and what it means for the diaspora who carry its weight
• How Taiwan governs itself under pressure when democratic survival is not guaranteed
(BONUS CONTENT)
• Milwaukee hosts first official AAPI Heritage Month celebration as community marks 150 years
• Podcast: A “deep dive” into a journey across Japan and its connection to Milwaukee in 2026
• Podcast: A “deep dive” into how today’s cross-strait tensions took shape over the past century
• Podcast: A “deep dive” into Taiwan's democracy and the cost for its diaspora in Milwaukee
