Strait Forward

Defending Against PRC Doublethink & Information Manipulation

At the 2026 AI+ Expo, host Channing Lee speaks with Doublethink Lab Founder and CEO Ttcat, Senior Analyst Jerry Yu, and Strategic Partnership Manager Dahyun Kim to expose the evolving tactics of PRC influence. From the alarming "GoLaxy Leak"—which revealed PRC state-backed AI profiling of Taiwan and U.S. citizens—to the "Borderless Group" content farms infiltrating social media, this episode pulls back the curtain on PRC foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). The team discusses the critical role of democratic control over the AI supply chain and shares why human vigilance is still the best digital defense. Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project [https://www.scsp.ai/].

How to Brew Taiwanese Tea

In this episode of Strait Forward, host Channing Lee sits down with Paul Chang, founder of the Morganhope Tea Shoppe in Taipei, to discuss the history and uniqueness of Taiwanese tea. As a "first-generation tea maker," Paul explains how his shop blends modern practices with ancient craftsmanship. He walks Channing through a tea tasting experience, exploring the spectrum of seaweed-like notes in Taiwanese green tea to the honeyed sweetness of Oriental Beauty oolong. Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project [https://www.scsp.ai/].

Japan's Stake in the Taiwan Strait

In this episode of Strait Forward, host Channing Lee is joined by Ken Moriyasu, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and former foreign correspondent for Nikkei Asia, to discuss how Japan is navigating its stake in Taiwan’s future. Drawing on decades of experience reporting from Beijing, Washington, and Tokyo, Moriyasu provides a sobering, pragmatic assessment of the Japan-Taiwan relationship and the shifting geopolitical realities of the Indo-Pacific. They discuss the recent, controversial statements by Prime Minister Takaichi, who categorized a Taiwan contingency as "survival-threatening" for Japan, as well as Japan’s potential role in a cross-strait conflict. Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project [https://www.scsp.ai/].

A Ghost Nation’s Struggle for Survival

In this episode of Strait Forward, host Channing Lee is joined by Taipei-based freelance journalist Chris Horton to discuss his new book, Ghost Nation: The Story of Taiwan and Its Struggle for Survival. With over two decades of experience reporting for major news outlets from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, Horton offers an "outsider-on-the-inside" perspective on the island’s history and how Taiwan has evolved from a geopolitical afterthought to an indispensable global player that still struggles for formal recognition. Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project [https://www.scsp.ai/].

Why Taiwan Matters to Every U.S. City & State (Subnational Diplomacy Explained)

Strait Forward celebrates its first anniversary with a special crossover episode featuring SCSP’s in-person “Chipping In” event series! Host Channing Lee welcomes on stage Andrea Yang, Deputy Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO), to discuss how Taiwan is engaging in subnational diplomacy across American cities and states. She provides a historical overview of Taiwan’s resilient diplomatic efforts since 1979, highlighting how Taiwan’s 13 representative offices, numerous "Sister City" relationships, and significant tech industry investments across America foster critical cultural, agricultural, economic, and tech ties between the United States and Taiwan. Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project [https://www.scsp.ai/].