RESILIENT TAIWAN Volume 43 2025 x INTRODUCTION JON MCMILLAN 1 TAIWANESE HORROR CINEMA Taiwanese horror films enjoy significant popularity despite comprising a small portion of domestic production. These films often draw on local folklore and address contemporary societal issues, with recurring themes of Taiwanese identity and historical trauma. This article explores why these films resonate so strongly with domestic audiences, arguing that their distinct appeal stems from folkloric elements and sociopolitical themes. A comparative analysis with Japanese and South Korean horror further highlights these unique characteristics. NAĐA STOJANOVIĆ 10 THE TAIWAN PRECISION HEALTH INITIATIVE: IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS Taiwan’s impressive pandemic response can be attributed to early intervention strategies that led to an emphasis on individualized health care. The Taiwan Precision Health Initiative launched new tactics to improve public health by targeting precision medicine, regenerative medicine, and digital health innovation. By prioritizing data privacy and fiscal transparency, Taiwan can reduce health-care costs, improve the overall quality of health, and enhance disease control and prevention. ANOUSHKA NAMBIAR 19 RETHINKING WATER RATE DESIGN IN TAIWAN Despite abundant annual rain, Taiwan faces persistent water shortages driven by temporal and spatial imbalances, infrastructural inefficiencies, and misaligned pricing. This article examines Taiwan’s water pricing, failure to incentivize conservation, and political and economic barriers to reform. Recommendations include customer classifications and raising pricing tiers for large users. Proposed reforms aim to align pricing with environmental and economic goals while maintaining equity across users. JONATHAN OSIKA 28 IMPLICATIONS OF TAIWAN’S DEPENDENCE ON IMPORTED ENERGY Taiwan occupies a unique geopolitical position, often in conflict with China. Its energy sector represents a key vulnerability as it attempts to mitigate Chinese aggressions and influences. This article examines how Taiwan’s dependence affects its geopolitical position and economy, exploring strategies for strengthening its position through a transition to renewable and clean energies and through strategic supply chain management to counter Chinese pressure. SEAN M. DAVIS 37 SUPER-AGED TAIWAN: ADDRESSING CHALLENGES TO HEALTH-CARE SUSTAINABILITY T aiwan’s aging population threatens the sustainability of its universal health-care system. With a growing elderly population, chronic disease rates rise; at the same time, the number of health-care professionals has been declining. This imbalance strains the National Health Insurance, with fewer working-age people contributing to its funding. This article examines the sustainability of the health-care system, analyzing the funding structure, long-term care policies, and government initiatives that address the challenges. HANNAH FALATKO 45 IN DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY: TAIWAN’S INDEPENDENT MEDIA Independent media in the Republic of China (Taiwan) is targeted by the unification efforts of the People’s Republic of China (China). Taiwan’s independent media is faced with propaganda, censorship, and disinformation attacks by China that aim to endanger its autonomy as a democracy. This article discusses relevant laws that protect speech and press freedoms as well as Taiwan’s current defenses against disinformation that provide a framework for future resistance to unification. TRINITY A. PRICE viii
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