In this episode of Strait Forward, hosts Channing Lee and Libby Lange welcome Lev Nachman, an assistant professor in the Graduate Institute of National Development at National Taiwan University (NTU) and author of Contested Taiwan: Sovereignty, Social Movements, and Party Formation. They discuss how public opinion and polarized politics shape perceptions of recent events in Taiwan.

Lev Nachman shares his expertise on political participation in Taiwan, discussing public identity, willingness to fight, and the implications of the "great recall movement." He analyzes how polarization impacts national security and the ongoing debate surrounding Taiwan's defense budget, including different perspectives on military spending. The conversation also touches on the rising influence of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) and the importance of independent voters in Taiwan's political landscape.

Strait Forward is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project.