Perspectives with Neilo

A Foggy Tale - Taiwanese Cinema Comes to Ireland

In this episode, we explore A Foggy Tale, the acclaimed Taiwanese historical drama directed by Chen Yu-hsun, which recently received its Irish premiere at Dublin’s Savoy Cinema. Set during Taiwan’s White Terror era in the 1950s, A Foggy Tale follows a young girl searching for the truth surrounding her brother’s execution during a time of martial law and political repression. Through striking cinematography, powerful performances, and an authentic atmosphere, the film captures both the fear and the humanity that endured during one of the most turbulent periods in Taiwanese history. The screening was hosted by the Dublin School of Mandarin Chinese as part of Taiwan’s new “Europe-Taiwan Cultural Year” initiative, launched by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to share Taiwanese culture and creativity across Europe. With a packed programme of cultural events planned in the months ahead, we also look at what audiences in Ireland can expect next (stay tuned until the end of the episode or check out our blog www.pwneilo for more). After attending the Dublin premiere on May 9th, I sat down with Dr. George Hong, a Taiwanese resident of Ireland, to discuss the historical background of the film, the meaning of the White Terror period, the evolution of Taiwanese identity, and why Taiwan’s past continues to resonate so strongly today. This episode explores Taiwanese cinema, Taiwan history, cultural identity, political memory, and the growing cultural connection between Taiwan and Ireland. / Audio Credit: excerpt from A Foggy Tale movie trailer /

China's Global Pressure Campaign to Isolate Taiwan

At the end of April, Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te ( 賴清德 ) was forced to cancel a diplomatic visit to Eswatini after multiple countries denied overflight access—an unusual and highly coordinated move. Days later, RightsCon 2026 in Zambia was abruptly cancelled, reportedly due to the planned participation of Taiwanese civil society groups. What connects these two events? In this episode, we examine how the Chinese Communist Party exerts pressure on governments and international organizations to marginalize Taiwan. From diplomatic restrictions to event cancellations, we break down the tactics Beijing uses to expand its global influence and limit Taiwan’s visibility on the world stage. 🔎 Topics covered: CCP’s weaponization of aviation safety CCP pressure in Africa Human rights and tech conference censorship (RightsCon 2026) What you need to know ahead of the forthcoming Trump - Xi summit If you’re interested in China–Taiwan relations, global politics, or international pressure campaigns, this episode unpacks a story unfolding right now. Thumbnail Photo courtesy of the Office of the President, Republic of China, Taiwan. Music Chime: Sound Soul (This Logo Reveal) by Diamond_Tunes via Pixabay

The Chinese Ambassador was Wrong - Barry Ward TD Responds

Did China cross a line in Ireland — or is something bigger happening beneath the surface? In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, we examine a recent intervention by China’s ambassador to Ireland, who criticised Irish politicians for engaging with Taiwan — and suggested such actions were not in Ireland’s public interest. We’re joined by Barry Ward, Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire, who pushed back publicly after visiting Taiwan in 2025. We discuss: – The ambassador’s letter and Deputy Ward’s response – The continued closure of Ireland’s trade office in Taipei – Whether China’s influence in Ireland is growing – The absence of foreign interference legislation – And whether this is shaping what can — and can’t — be said about China This episode explores the intersection of foreign policy, democracy, and influence — and asks whether Ireland is prepared to navigate an increasingly complex relationship with China. Photo courtesy of the Office of the President, Republic of China, Taiwan.

The Anaconda in the Irish Chandelier - St Patrick's Day Special Re-Release

As Ireland marks Saint Patrick's Day, we’re revisiting this episode of Perspectives with Neilo: The Anaconda in the Irish Chandelier — a conversation about power, fear, and the subtle ways political influence can shape democratic behaviour. There’s a metaphor often used in diplomatic and academic circles to describe China’s influence — the anaconda in the chandelier. Everyone can see it. Everyone knows it’s there. But no one wants to acknowledge it, because naming it would mean having to act. The phrase was coined in 2002 by the American scholar Perry Link in an essay for The New York Review of Books. One of the world’s foremost experts on Chinese language, literature, and political expression, Link used the metaphor to describe the quiet but pervasive power of the Chinese Communist Party — a system that enforces obedience not only through censorship, but through fear and self-censorship. He wrote that the Chinese state’s authority doesn’t resemble a roaring tiger or a fire-breathing dragon, but a massive anaconda coiled silently overhead. It rarely moves. It doesn’t need to. Its message is implicit: you decide. And under its shadow, people — journalists, academics, politicians — instinctively adjust what they say and do, often without being told. The fear this creates isn’t dramatic or overt. It’s subtle, normalized, and deeply ingrained — a quiet calculation that becomes part of the landscape. And it is precisely that psychological control that makes the anaconda so effective. Legend tells us that St Patrick banished all the snakes from Ireland. But by the early 1990s, it appears that one very large snake had quietly found its way back into the Oireachtas — not as a myth, but as a political reality. In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, we examine how fear of offending Beijing has shaped Irish government behaviour for decades. From Ireland’s muted response to China’s human rights abuses to its cautious stance on Tibet, Xinjiang, and Taiwan, we explore how economic pressure and political self-censorship have influenced policy, limited transparency, and raised serious questions about Ireland’s democratic resilience. This is a conversation about power, fear, and silence — and about what happens to a democracy when everyone sees the anaconda, but no one dares to say its name. Music Credits: Cinematic Piano Ambient Trailer Soundtrack by Open-Music-for-Videos via Pixabay Sound Soul (This Logo Reveal) by Diamond_Tunes via Pixabay Slow immersion by SamuelFJohanns via Pixabay Tibet by AdvGold via Pixabay Shining Bright Dusk by FreeSoundServer via Pixabay Enter the realm - no Piano by SamuelFJohanns via Pixabay Speeches: Excerpt from Closing statement by Josep Borrell Fonelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission on Sept 13th, 2022, provided courtesy of the European Parliament Multimedia Centre. © European Union, 2022 – Source: EP. / Excerpts from Senator Michael McDowell's speech at Seanad Eireann, Human Rights in China: Motion, Dec 1st, 2021 provided courtesy of the Houses of the Oireachtas. © Houses of the Oireachtas, 2021. /

Surviving Tiananmen Square - Wu'er Kaixi on China and Democracy

In June 1989, the world watched as the Chinese government declared martial law and sent troops into Beijing to end the student-led demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. The crackdown — now known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre — remains one of the most consequential and censored events in modern Chinese history. In this episode, we sit down with Wu’er Kaixi, one of the most prominent student leaders of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. More than three decades later, he reflects on the events of June 1989 and their aftermath, the personal cost of defying the Chinese Communist Party and the reality of life in exile. Recorded in Taiwan in June 2025, this conversation explores the legacy of Tiananmen, the state of democracy and dissent in China today, and what Wu’er Kaixi believes the world still misunderstands about the Chinese Communist Party and the future of China. This is a firsthand account of protest, power, and political resistance — and a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the central figures of 1989.