How I experienced Taiwan's transformation

"The Island" is the 16th book by Mark O'Neill, an Irish and French-speaking author who lives in Hong Kong. He recounts the miraculous transformation of Taiwan between the 1980s when he learned Mandarin there and the country that Taiwan is today.

Before Taiwan or the Republic of China was a dictatorship that produced umbrellas and sports shoes. Today, it's Asia's most democratic country, a state that produces the world's most sophisticated semiconductors. Taiwan also boasts a dynamic civil society - including a 10-million-member Buddhist foundation with charitable activities in over 100 countries worldwide.

Mark tells this story through multiple anecdotes drawn from his personal experience. In his presentation, he will show through several images the remarkable diversity of Taiwan.

Mark has lived in Asia since 1978. He worked in Taiwan, China, Japan and India as a journalist, before settling in Hong Kong in 2006 as an author. You can visit the website presenting his books, in English and Chinese: www.mark-oneill.com

The conference will be moderated by Jean-Pierre Cabestan (CNRS-Ifrae).

Contact: cabestan@hkbu.edu.hk