Upscaling Taiwan Studies in Asia

This themed issue examines Taiwan as a burgeoning hub of epistemic innovation and regional connectivity in Asia. While Taiwan Studies has gained visibility through institutions in the West, its scope, in terms of literary wealth and intellectual infrastructure, within Asia remains underdeveloped. Drawing from six interdisciplinary contributions, the issue challenges geopolitical overdetermination by foregrounding Taiwan as an autonomous source of theory, practice, and regional engagement. By integrating domains such as soft power, development diplomacy, labour migration, and strategic deterrence, the themed issue articulates Taiwan’s regional embeddedness and conceptual relevance. This editorial introduction critiques inherited disciplinary frames and proposes a situated, Asia-centred recalibration of Taiwan Studies. The objective is not only to map Taiwan’s positionalities but also to reposition the field as a vital node in Asia’s intellectual, normative, and developmental landscape.