Taiwan Review

Taiwan Review is an English-language general-interest periodical associated with Taiwan's public-information system and intended primarily for readers outside Taiwan. It was established in April 1951 as Free China Review, a title that reflected the political context of the early Republic of China government and its contrast with the communist government on the Chinese mainland. The publication is described as the first English-language periodical funded by the Republic of China government for an overseas audience. The magazine's editorial purpose has been to explain Taiwan and developments affecting Taiwanese society to English-speaking readers around the world. Its subject range includes politics, economics, social change, the environment, culture and the arts. Across its long publishing history, it has presented itself less as a narrowly specialized trade publication than as a broad periodical record of Taiwan's transformation, including socioeconomic development and democratization. Its reporting, features and commentaries have also made it a reference point for readers and researchers interested in contemporary Taiwan and East Asian affairs. The title changed twice as the publication's geographic framing evolved. In April 2000, Free China Review was renamed Taipei Review. In March 2003, it became Taiwan Review, a name intended to identify the publication more directly with Taiwan rather than with the older political terminology or the capital city alone. The title therefore represents both continuity with the original government information publication and an effort to update its public identity. Taiwan Review was published by Kwang Hua Publishing, Inc. under the supervision of the Department of International Information Services of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before the reorganization of Taiwan's government information structure, it was described as the flagship publication of the Government Information Office. When the Government Information Office was dissolved on May 20, 2012, management of the magazine moved to the newly formed Department of International Information Services under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The publication has also been part of a wider foreign-language publishing program. Related editions have appeared in Spanish, French, German and Russian. The Spanish edition, Taiwan Hoy, began in September 1982; the French Taiwan aujourd'hui began in January 1984 and later became monthly in April 2002; the German Taiwan heute began in September 1988; and the Russian Тайваньская панорама began in May 1994. According to the reference material, these editions served as government-funded foreign-language publications introducing Taiwan and Taiwan-related issues to overseas audiences. The English title has been described as bi-monthly and, in one account, as a 65-page periodical, although publication details may have changed over time. The official site also provides issue-related material and archives.

Taiwan Review traces its history to April 1951, when it was founded as Free China Review. The publication emerged as an English-language government-funded periodical aimed at readers outside the Republic of China. Its original title reflected the political circumstances of the period and positioned the publication as an account of the Republic of China's presence and development in opposition to the communist mainland government. For more than five decades, the magazine used the Free China Review name while documenting Taiwan-related political, economic and social developments. Its editorial scope was broad rather than limited to a single policy field. Reports, features and commentaries addressed Taiwan's socioeconomic development, democratization, public affairs, culture, the environment and the arts. This gave the periodical a role as an explanatory publication for foreign readers, as well as a source used by academics and others studying Taiwan and East Asia. The magazine's identity changed as the political and geographic language used to describe Taiwan evolved. In April 2000, it was renamed Taipei Review. That name was retained for approximately three years before a further change in March 2003 produced the current Taiwan Review title. The latter name places the island and its society, rather than the older political slogan or the capital city, at the center of the publication's identity. Kwang Hua Publishing, Inc. publishes the magazine under the supervision of Taiwan's Department of International Information Services within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before the reorganization of the government information apparatus, Taiwan Review was identified as the flagship publication of the Government Information Office. The Government Information Office was formally dissolved on May 20, 2012, as part of a government restructuring program. Management of the periodical then moved to the newly established Department of International Information Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Taiwan Review also belongs to a broader foreign-language publishing effort designed to introduce Taiwan to international audiences. Related editions include the Spanish Taiwan Hoy, first published bimonthly in September 1982; the French Taiwan aujourd'hui, launched in January 1984 and later published monthly from April 2002; the German Taiwan heute, launched in September 1988; and the Russian Тайваньская панорама, launched in May 1994. The reference material characterizes these publications as government-funded foreign-language periodicals focused on Taiwan and issues related to Taiwan. The English-language magazine has been described as a bi-monthly publication and, in the cited account, as a 65-page periodical. Its stated role is to provide international readers with informed discussion of Taiwan's politics, economy, society, environment and arts. An official website associated with the publication provides information about the magazine and issue archives. The available reference material does not establish a current publication schedule, current editorial leadership, circulation, ownership structure beyond the stated publisher and supervisory relationship, or whether the periodical remains actively published; those points require verification.

• 2012

  Administrative oversight moves to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

  [1]Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  After the Government Information Office is dissolved on May 20, management moves to the Department of International Information Services.

• 2003

  Renamed Taiwan Review

  [1]Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  The magazine adopts its current Taiwan Review name in March.

• 2000

  Renamed Taipei Review

  [1]Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  The original Free China Review title is replaced by Taipei Review in April.

• 1994

  Russian-language edition begins

  [1]Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Тайваньская панорама begins publication in May.

• 1988

  German-language edition begins

  [1]Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Taiwan heute begins publication in September.

• 1984

  French-language edition begins

  [1]Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Taiwan aujourd'hui begins publication in January as part of the foreign-language publishing program.

• 1982

  Spanish-language edition begins

  [1]Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  The related Spanish publication Taiwan Hoy begins bimonthly publication in September.

• 1951

  Launch as Free China Review

  [1]Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  The English-language periodical begins publication in April as a Republic of China government-funded overseas information magazine.

An internationally oriented public-information magazine presenting Taiwan's political, economic, social, environmental and cultural developments through reporting, features and commentary.

• English-language magazine · 1951

  Taiwan Review

  The flagship English-language periodical covers Taiwan's politics, economy, society, environment and arts. It uses reporting, features and commentary to explain Taiwan's development and contemporary affairs to readers outside Taiwan. The magazine has been described as bi-monthly and as a source of background information for international readers and researchers concerned with Taiwan and East Asia.

• Spanish-language magazine · 1982

  Taiwan Hoy

  A related Spanish-language publication presenting Taiwan and Taiwan-related issues to Spanish-speaking overseas audiences. It began bimonthly publication in September 1982 as part of the broader foreign-language periodical program associated with Taiwan Review.

• French-language magazine · 1984

  Taiwan aujourd'hui

  The French-language edition of the foreign-language Taiwan publishing program. It began in January 1984 and is reported to have changed to monthly publication in April 2002.

• German-language magazine · 1988

  Taiwan heute

  A German-language periodical introducing Taiwan and issues related to Taiwan. It began publication in September 1988 and was described as part of the program's bimonthly non-English editions.

• Russian-language magazine · 1994

  Тайваньская панорама

  The Russian-language edition of the Taiwan foreign-information magazine program. It began publication in May 1994 and was described as a bimonthly publication.

• 2012

  Transferred administrative oversight after government restructuringStrategy

  Background

  Taiwan's Government Information Office was formally dissolved on May 20, 2012, as part of a government restructuring program. The office had previously overseen the magazine as a flagship publication.

  Action taken

  Management moved to the Department of International Information Services under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  Aftermath

  The periodical continued within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' international information structure, while Kwang Hua Publishing, Inc. remained identified as its publisher in the reference material.

  Source

• 2003

  Adopted the Taiwan Review titleStrategy

  Background

  After three years as Taipei Review, the publication sought a title that more directly represented Taiwan as the subject of its international coverage.

  Action taken

  The magazine changed its name to Taiwan Review in March 2003.

  Aftermath

  Taiwan Review became the continuing English-language identity used for the periodical and its associated online presence.

  Source

• 2000

  Adopted the Taipei Review titleStrategy

  Background

  The publication had used the Free China Review name since 1951, a title tied to the political language of the early Republic of China period.

  Action taken

  It changed its name to Taipei Review in April 2000.

  Aftermath

  The title remained in use until the publication adopted Taiwan Review in March 2003.

  Source

• 2012

  Management transfers after Government Information Office dissolution[1]Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Following the formal dissolution of Taiwan's Government Information Office on May 20, management of the magazine comes under the Department of International Information Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• 2003

  Taipei Review becomes Taiwan Review[1]Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The publication changes its name again in March to Taiwan Review, a title intended to represent the publication's geographic and national focus more directly.

• 2000

  Free China Review is renamed Taipei Review[1]Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The magazine adopts the Taipei Review title in April, replacing the Cold War-era name used since its founding.

• 1951

  Free China Review is established[1]Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The publication begins in April under the name Free China Review as an English-language periodical funded by the Republic of China government for readers overseas.

1. 1Taiwan Reviewen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Taiwan Review official websitetaiwanauj.nat.gov.tw