Taiwan's 'Taiwan Review' Magazine Closes After 75 Years, Raising Concerns Over Digital Archives
The 'Taiwan Review' magazine, a publication that served as a government mouthpiece for 75 years, has ceased publication with its final issue in March. Originally launched in 1951 as the 'Free China Review' by the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) Central Propaganda Department, it later underwent name changes to 'Taipei Review' and then 'Taiwan Review'. While some international scholars dismissed it as a 'propaganda rag,' others, like Shelley Rigger of Davidson College, recognized its role in providing a voice for Taiwan during a period of significant change. The termination of the magazine is attributed to the general decline of print media and budget cuts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), which managed the publication. These cuts have also led to the discontinuation of the print edition of 'Taiwan Panorama' and the removal of various digital archives, distressing former and current staffers. MOFA has stated that the archives have been backed up and preserved, but former staff express concern over...