I’m still in Taiwan, still writing, still editing, and still beguiled by strange old buildings like this one I spotted for sale in Kaohsiung’s Luzhu District a few months back. 

In the second half of 2023, I edited a soon-to-be published 73,874-word geopolitical analysis of the multifaceted threat that China poses to the United States, as well as dozens of op-ed columns, local government puff pieces, and brochures (both physical and digital) for clients in the cultural sector. I’ve kept up my writing for Taipei Times; among the most interesting or personally satisfying pieces I wrote for them were three which examined the handling and recycling of e-waste such as batteries and LCD panels (here, here, and here), and a look at the degrowth movement and why it struggles to gain traction in Taiwan.

At the end of October, Taiwan Business Topics published my answer to the question “If China blockaded Taiwan, would the island starve?” The TLDR version is: Not for six months or so, but after that things could get difficult.

I don’t go out of my way for travel stories these days, but a three-day junket to Taitung in October resulted in a pair of articles that, I think, came out well. The quinquennial Paiwan Malijeveq Festival was truly memorable, and I enjoyed every second of the morning we spent with an indigenous wild-greens specialist.

What do I expect 2024 to bring? More of the same, mostly. A county government I’ ve not previously worked with has invited me to edit their biannual English-language magazine. One of the reasons for me accepting the job was that the young people I’ll be working with seem sensible and highly motivated. And I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that the worrying state of the world doesn’t upset a whole load of apple carts.