Guidance for Reading and Selecting

Read critically; ask yourself:

What is the main argument or message?
What assumptions or agendas are visible?
How does the article frame Taiwan, China, China-Taiwan relations, other power’s roles in it?
What historical knowledge helps put this in perspective? (At times this may not be applicable, and there is no need to force it.)

Choosing news articles for seminar discussions

Select 2–5 items. They need not be from this week or even this year, but should be within the past fifteen years. As historians, we take a longer perspective and are interested in structural changes and patterns. Two or three items on the same topic across a period of time might reveal something interesting. Please also ensure they do not repeat previous weeks’ choices .
Aim for depth, not headlines. Choose pieces that offer context, analysis, or multiple perspectives rather than simple breaking news. As a guide, keep the total length up to 3,500 words.
Consider balance and perspective. Be mindful of outlet viewpoints. Taipei Times reflects Taiwanese perspectives; SCMP a Hong Kong–based lens; US/UK outlets often frame Taiwan–China issues through Western policy concerns. Global Times is an official Chinese state outlet and reflects the Chinese Communist Party’s perspective.
Link past and present (when appropriate). Where possible, pick items that connect to module themes (e.g., Taiwan’s democracy, cross-strait tensions, semiconductor supply chains). Do not force a historical angle if it isn’t there.
Optional theme. You may take a thematic approach by choosing several items that form a coherent theme, but this is not required.
Submission. Once selected, compile the items into a single PDF and email it to the seminar tutor by Thursday.