In this episode of the 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 details her dramatic political evolution from a supporter of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party 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 of the shift in political tides in Taiwan, increased 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.

This is a very good discussion, surprisingly good actually, and it's well worth listening to, even if - like me - you don't really like Carl Zha that much. This level of quality insight into Taiwan, especially in the second half of the interview, is something that is very rare to find, even in the alternative media space.