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In this Silk and Steel Podcast, host Carl Zha sits down with Angelica Ong, a pro-nuclear activist and political commentator based in Taiwan. They discuss her dramatic political shift as well as her pragmatic analysis of Taiwan’s energy crisis and precarious geopolitical position between the US and China.
Angelica Ong is a former business reporter and pastry chef from Los Angeles. She explains her dramatic political evolution from a supporter of Taiwan’s ruling DPP to a pragmatic voice who calls for a reassessment of cross-strait relations. We explore the roots of Taiwan’s anti-nuclear energy policy, why she believes it is a catastrophic failure, and how this led her to question the DPP’s governance. Angelica provides a rare, on-the-ground perspective on the shifting political tides in Taiwan, the growing disillusionment among youth, and why she believes peaceful reunification with China is not only possible but may be the most rational path forward for Taiwan’s survival and prosperity. This is a crucial conversation for anyone who wants to understand the real Taiwan, beyond western media headlines.
(Timestamps)
00:00 – Introduction
01:15 – Angelica’s Background: From LA Pastry Chef to Taiwan Journalist
05:30 – The Offshore Wind Energy “Bonanza” and Its Problems
09:45 – The Pivot to Pro-Nuclear Activism
15:30 – Why is the DPP So Anti-Nuclear? The Historical Roots
22:45 – Angelica’s Political Transformation: From DPP Supporter to Critic
30:10 – The “Red Line”: The Backlash for Acknowledging China’s Rise
35:50 – Taiwan’s Missed Opportunity in the 1990s
42:15 – The Shifting Balance of Power: Taiwan as a “Lifeboat” Adrift
48:30 – The Rise of Pragmatic Voices in Taiwan (e.g., Jim Boss)
55:10 – Economic Stagnation and the Bleak Future for Taiwanese Youth
01:01:00 – The Significance of KMT Chairwoman Jen Lee-Wen
01:05:45 – Can Taiwan Achieve a Peaceful Settlement?
01:10:30 – Final Thoughts and Where to Find Angelica Online
(Key Takeaways)
Energy Policy as a Catalyst: Angelica’s shift began with her work in offshore wind energy. She discovered that the DPP’s plan to replace reliable nuclear power was technically and economically unfeasible for Taiwan. This led her to pro-nuclear activism.
Ideology vs. Governance: The DPP’s anti-nuclear stance is deeply tied to its founding identity and the pro-democracy movement. This makes it a “deep value” that is difficult to change even when evidence shows it is bad policy.
A Dramatic Political Shift: Angelica explains her journey from being a “Tsai Ing-wen fan girl” to a critic. She was triggered by the DPP’s disingenuous energy policy. This opened the door to question their narrative on history, governance, and cross-strait relations.
The Geopolitical Reality Check: She argues that Taiwan’s status quo is an illusion. The power balance has shifted decisively in China’s favour. The US is no longer a reliable “mothership” to protect Taiwan.
A Generation of Disillusionment: Taiwanese youth face stagnant wages, unaffordable housing, and dim economic prospects. This causes a political earthquake which makes them more open to reassess the relationship with mainland China.
The Path to Peace: Angelica advocates for a pragmatic approach: acknowledge the reality of China’s rise, dissolve historical grudges from the civil war, and negotiate from a position of desire to preserve Taiwan’s way of life to avoid a fate like Ukraine.
(Links & Resources)
Follow Angelica Ong:
On Twitter/X: https://x.com/AngelicaOung (Search for “Angelica Oung”)
Her Substack & YouTube Channel:
https://taipology.substack.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@TaipologyAngelica
(Search “Taipology Angelica Oung”)
Related Reading: Derecognition (Book mentioned about US-Taiwan relations)